Ford refuses to use injuries as an excuse for defeat to leaders

Michael Taylor hit the only goal of the game as BetVictor Southern League leaders Bromsgrove Sporting beat the Puritans in Saturday's Premier Central clash. United were left to reflect on missed first half chances in front of the biggest crowd of the season at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium.

Ford said: "I don't want to use it as an excuse but we're missing several key players, including three central defenders which meant Ricky Johnson had to play at the back again instead of up front. In saying that we should still have got something out of the game, the players were good enough to have got us something.

"The goal came when we lost possession in a key area of the pitch, but Bromsgrove's experience has probably won them the game. There are reasons we didn't get something from the game, besides the injuries, the players competed well but that's not enough, we have to do better than that if we are to pick up points in these games.

"That might be enough for teams near the bottom of the table but I'd like to think we can be better than that. Even though we've lost three on the bounce it's still very tight, we've just got to work on things in training this week."