NEIL BAKER has admitted that the Southern Premier Division title is now beyond Slough Town this season.

Slough suffered a 3-0 defeat at Biggleswade on Wednesday, leaving them fourth in the table and nine points behind leaders Chippenham.

“We would probably admit that the title has gone for us now,” the Rebels joint-manager told the Observer. “We need too many teams to slip up on more than one occasion and I can’t see that happening to be honest.”

Commenting on the defeat at Biggleswade, where a Rhys Hoeness double after the break added to an own goal in the first-half, Baker said: “Obviously any game you lose is disappointing.

“We went one down but actually started quite well. It was a really even first half on a really tough pitch. It was a bog down the middle.

“We had five or six really good chances to equalise in the second half. We hit the crossbar twice and other chances weren’t taken. I don’t know how it stayed at 1-0 to be honest with you.

“We were really on top but got hit with a sucker punch when a Mark Nisbet slip allowed their centre forward to get in and he couldn’t recover on that pitch.

“We worked hard and created chances but it was a tough pitch to play on. There were fine margins but we just didn’t take our chances.

“They had the luck whereas we didn’t but we gave it a good go.”

Despite the midweek defeat, the Rebels are still nine points above Banbury United in sixth place and Baker hopes a point away at Hitchin this Saturday will help Slough secure a play-off spot.

He said: “Hitchin is tough and we’re still not quite sure on the goalkeeper front. We’re hoping to have Paul Strudley (on loan from Hartley Wintney) for the rest of the season but are struggling a little at the moment, which is not ideal.

“We’ve also got one or two struggling after Wednesday night with tight hamstrings.

“We’ve got to try not to get beaten and get something from the game. An away point would be a good one.”