RILEY Smith has admitted to being completely gutted after Lynchpin saw their dreams of a quadruple this season go up in smoke but he insists future opposition will be on the receiving end of a backlash.

Lynchpin missed out on a first piece of silverware after a 2-0 defeat against FC Thame in the Slough Town Senior Cup final at The Gore on Good Friday.

The East Berkshire Football League representatives did not get the rub of the green in the final, watched by a bumper 450-strong crowd, but two costly mistakes let in Shayne Almond and Alex Woodfine for the goals.

“We played Thame last year so knew a bit about them. They are a good side and we said mistakes in key areas could cost us, so I’m completely gutted to be honest,” the Lynchpin manager told the Observer.

“I’m really upset for a couple of the lads. Unfortunately we suffered injuries to a couple of key players before the game and picked up two more in the match, so it wasn’t the way we wanted to play on the day.

“Everyone was up for the game but it definitely didn’t go to plan. We went with one up to and two out wide, but Dean Papali was isolated up front. He did not get enough support or service.

“I thought we would get something out of it so I’m really disappointed with the result. We played well in the first 45 minutes but we made two mistakes and they punished us.”

Lynchpin are still in the Norfolkian and League Cup competitions, and on course to win an historic third straight Premier Division title, and Smith his confident is team have the mental strength to come back strong.

“We’re not taking anything for granted, just one game at a time, but we are still looking very good,” he said. “We have got a team ethic with character, heart and determination.

“We had a group chat and a lot of the lads are all keen to get going again. They are not feeling disheartened but confident we can bounce back, and I do think we can will all three because we’ve got a very good squad.

“We’ve not lost all season in the league and have a couple of games in hand, so we’re looking good and hopefully teams will be on the end of a backlash.”

GRAB a copy of the first-ever amateur football supplement in Slough, to feature all of this season's cup finals, inside the Observer on Friday, May 27.