MANAGER Rob Mallinson believes things are looking up for Burnham FC despite a run of six defeats in a row.

Since taking over from Martin Stone in January, Mallinson is yet to win a game, with the 2-1 defeat at Chippenham Town on Saturday extending his side’s winless run to seven matches in Southern Premier Division.

However, with a number of players following Stone out of The Gore, Mallinson always knew he was in for an uphill battle.

And it did not help that three of his first four matches were against teams competing at the top end of the table.

“It has been a baptism of fire with the results and sorting out players,” he told the Observer.

“It has been a steep learning curve but a good one. We have lost six games on the spin but I do not think results tell the full picture.

“We dominated games against Truro and Chippenham but could not take our chances on two occasions. We should have come away with wins.

“I was disappointed against Chippenham because I really felt we should have been in front at half-time.

“We conceded a sloppy goal early in the second half. We got back into the game and should have pushed on more.” Blues’ best chances of the opening half against Chippenham both fell to Aaron Couch.

He saw his lob over the onrushing Ben John hit the side netting in the 12th minute and then shot over the bar in injury-time from just six yards out.

Lee Togwell did get the ball in the net only for his effort to be disallowed as the referee’s whistle had gone a fraction beforehand, for a foul in Blues’ favour.

At the other end, Adam Lawrence made an excellent save to deny Rob Dean, who also headed across the face of goal.

It was third time lucky for Dean early in the second half when he fired home from the edge of the box.

The goal galvanised Blues and, after Lewis Driver and Myles Hippolyte went close, Driver headed home the equaliser in the 72nd minute.

But Chippenham regained the lead five minutes later and held out for all three points.

Despite the defeat, Mallinson says: “I am starting to get the right team and squad together and we are getting more confident in training.

“The boys are understanding what is expected of them.

“The training sessions have gone really well. The boys are capable, they just need to transfer that belief from the training ground into game day. The whole aim for this season is to stay in the division and nothing has changed.

“It is tough and we do not want to be complacent. We still want to pick up points for personal pride.” Blues host play-off hopefuls Poole Town on Saturday (3pm ko) and then Chesham United next Tuesday (7.45pm ko).

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