GARETH Davies has conceded that every game will be a challenge for Shrivenham until the club’s poor run of form comes to an end.

Davies has watched his side record only seven points from their opening 11 Hellenic Premier Division fixtures this season, results which have consequently left the side bottom of the table.

The situation fails to get easier this weekend as promotion chasing Ascot United visit Barrington Park, and Davies admits his men enter the tie as massive underdogs.

“Every game is going to be tough for us at the moment, because of where we are in the table,” said Davies.

“It will be a challenge against Ascot, and the table doesn’t lie. We’ve got ourselves into this situation and we’ve got to get ourselves out of it.

“We’ll go into the game as massive underdogs, but it’s down to ourselves to prove that we can compete.

“We have to go into the game with a positive attitude. We know that we’ve not been anywhere near where we should be, performance-wise.

“First and foremost we need to start competing in games. At the moment, when we concede a goal you can sense there’s a ‘here we go again’ mentality on the pitch.

“We’ve got to stop that, and we’ve got to start competing from minute one.”

Davies’ comments regarding his side’s ill-discipline over 90 minutes were voiced following Tuesday night’s 2-1 Floodlit Cup defeat by AFC Aldermaston.

Two goals in the first half put the game beyond reach for Shrivenham, who responded well in the second but failed to find a way back into the game.

Davies said: “On Tuesday night a couple of mistakes cost us two goals, but in the second half I thought there was only one team in it.

“We just couldn’t get that equaliser though. But it is what it is, and we need to stay positive.

“At the minute we’re just not taking what is in front of us.

“We moved the ball around well, and that’s a positive sign. We’ve got to try and keep the players in good spirits.”

Elsewhere in the Hellenic League, Sam Collier’s Royal Wootton Bassett Town welcome Brackley Town Saints while Fairford host AFC Aldermaston.

In Division One West, Malmesbury travel to Ardley and New College Swindon make the trip to Pewsey.