CONFIDENCE-HIT Corsham Town twice threw away a lead at the weekend in their 3-2 Toolstation League Division One defeat away at Longwell Green Sports.

Joshua Bright netted twice for Justin Flowers’ mid-table visitors, but determined Longwell came from behind on two occasions to poach all three points and consequently drop Corsham to eighth in the table.

The defeat was Corsham’s third in the last fortnight, with other losses occurring against Lebeq United and Wells City – in the latter in the Les Phillips Cup.

The season has been far from disastrous for Flowers’ troops, but the manager admits players haven’t left everything out on the pitch at times this season.

And that has naturally seen the club’s form from last season – which saw Corsham finish third in the table – fail to translate into this term.

Flowers said: “It was a good performance by us on Saturday but we suffered from a sloppy five-minute spell in the second half where we let the game slip.

“That’s been the story of our season, to be honest.

“Longwell Green are a good side. We had to work hard to get our goals, but we gave their goals away much too easily.

“After leading twice, it was a blow to not get anything out of the game.

“One week, we’re playing well, the next, we’re sloppy. It’s frustrating.

“We’ve left elements of our game out on the pitch, and we know what’s going on.

“I believe it’s a confidence issue. We’ve got a similar group to the team that finished third in the table last season.

“It’s a case of getting that form back, and there are signs that we’re playing better and the effort levels are there – that’s the minimum we expect.”

A welcome break from league football presents itself to Corsham this weekend as they face lower-league Shrewton United in the Wiltshire Senior Cup.

Having played five more fixtures in the league than 14th-placed Portishead Town, Flowers understands the division’s current unbalanced nature.

Progressing in the county cup is therefore a short-term aim for the Southbank side.

Flowers added: “We’ve played better since the weather has turned, although I’m not sure if it helps us or not.

“We’re lucky to have players that are ready to scrap it out once the colder weather arrives.

“We’ve played a lot more games than everyone else. We’ve managed to dodge postponements well.

“It will be good for other teams to catch up in the league this year – and the Wiltshire Senior Cup is a winnable competition.

“It’s a competition we want to win, and although Shrewton are in the league below us, it will be tricky.”

Elsewhere, Division One table-toppers Calne Town were thumped 4-0 at home by Tavistock in the Les Phillips Cup.

Warminster Town were without a game at the weekend as their trip to Bishops Sutton was postponed because of heavy rainfall.

Devizes Towns’ game away at Wells City was also called off because of the weather.

There was no luck for Wiltshire sides in the Premier Division either.

Westbury United’s game against Roman Glass St George was postponed as was Bradford Town’s home match against Shepton Mallet.