LANGLEY manager John Thirkell has suggested that their current injury crisis cost them any chance of winning the Norfolkian Senior Cup final this season.

The East Berkshire Premier Division club suffered a 6-3 defeat at the hands of Reading YMCA in the final at Larges Lane last week. Gary Ashton scored twice in the loss with Jermaine Gumbs also on target.

Thirkell admitted that there was just seven fit players available for selection in the final, but he cannot fault the effort of those that came into the side.

The Langley boss told the Observer: “Reading were better than us and I have no complaints because the best team one on the night, but we only had seven fit players. We did our best but on the day it wasn’t good enough.

“It was 2-2 at one stage and we were never too far behind, but all of a sudden their quality shone through “The players that came in for us all gave 100 per-cent so I can’t have any complaints.

“We beat Reading earlier in the season and I would love to play them again with the side we had out for the Fielden Cup final, or with Dean Papali (injured striker) in the side because it would be a different story.”

He continued: “We have a massive amount of injuries at the moment and some are serious, like a torn hamstring.

“Some players will not play any more this season. One of those is Dean, and if you take him out all of a sudden you have a problem.”

Langley are currently in fourth position in the Premier Division table and 16 points behind Delaford, but with five matches on hand in the league leaders.

Thirkell said: “We’re looking forward to every game and the players have had a little rest after the game last weekend was called off.

"We’re still in with a big shout of winning the league, it's not over yet, plus we've another cup final this Saturday as well."

Grab a copy of the Observer next Friday for pictures and reaction from Langley in the Fielden Cup and League Cup finals.