SHRIVENHAM’S poor start to the season continues but manager Sam Collier believes there are plenty of positives to be taken for the young side.

Shrivvy lost their 12th game of the season, 4-2, when they travelled to third placed Kidlington on Saturday.

The visitors found themselves a goal down in the opening five minutes via a dubious penalty but were back level before half-time through a strike from Josh Fowler.

Despite a strong 20 minute period after the break from Collier’s side, they were delivered a sucker punch when two quick-fire goals from Ryan Curtin put the home side in a strong position.

Shrivenham changed formation to give themselves more of a threat up front and got a goal back through Tom Rees but a goal in the last minute of play from Charlie Cassettari sealed the three points for Kidlington.

“We went 1-0 down after five minutes for a penalty that I never thought was a penalty and you think the world is against you when you are on a poor run,” said Collier.

“We got back in the game and then we had a right good go at them and were the better side for a 20 minute spell.

“We had a couple of good chances that I think we should possibly do better with and if we took those chances then we go 2-1 up and you never know, but at the moment we’re not taking our chances.

“A 4-2 result looks comfortable but it was far from that and I think they are probably the best side we’ve played this year and I should imagine they will be up there.

“The difference is when you give the ball away against teams like that they will punish you.

“There are a lot of positives to take from the game and the next two are vital for us.”

New signing Steve Olphert, who signed from Clanfield, was in the starting line-up to give Shrivenham some much needed experience but was forced off mid-way through the game due to injury.

“He brings something different that we don’t have,” added Collier.

“We are a very young side, before he joined the team the oldest player was 25 and that is very young so he gives us a bit of experience and he is a wise lad.

“The problem we’ve got at the moment is the players all want to play football and want to pass the ball and at the moment what we are lacking a little bit of is a few grafters.

“They may not be technically great but they are Hellenic football players and that is what we are probably lacking at the moment a couple of Hellenic football players who want to go a graft and turn up and want to fight.”