SLOUGH captain Max Miles has explained it is still possible for the Greenies to avoid relegation from Southern Counties North this season, writes Rob Stevens.

Slough won the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier title at a canter last season but have found life tougher in this higher division, winning just three times in 15 league matches.

A run of six straight defeats, including a 35-12 loss at Reading Abbey on Saturday, leaves the Greenies second from bottom in the table and 15 points from safety.

Miles had admitted it will be difficult for them to avoid relegation from this position, but he insists Slough will keep on fighting.

He told the Observer: "We need to learn to be more clinical in attacking positions. We build and build pressure but then panic and do something silly.

"Other teams show composure and are more clinical in our 22, and that has been the difference this season.

"We feel like it's only a matter of time before we come good and pick up a much-needed win and some bonus points.

"It will be very difficult to get out of this situation but we believe it's still possible and will keep on fighting until we can't anymore."

Miles has taken confidence from the second-half performance against Reading Abbey where Slough fought back from being 30-0 behind at the break for a more respectable scoreline.

He said: "Reading Abbey are a good side and it was another tough game. We didn't start well and were pretty poor on our part in the first-half.

"We were well-structured for the majority of the first-half but had three or five minute blips where Reading scored a couple of tries.

"We knew we couldn't win the game at half-time but the aim was to get a bonus point. We won the second-half 12-5 so did something well.

"We picked up an injury in the first-half and a couple more in the second which disrupted our rhythm and flow, but it was a superb performance after half-time.

"Whether that was Reading taking their foot off the gas because the game was already won I don't know, but we were in our own half for just five minutes.

"We put pressure on them in terms of our intensity in both attack and defence.

"We only scored two tries unfortunately so fell short of the bonus point, but the performances are getting there week-in-week-out.

"Reading deserved their win but we possibly deserved a bonus point for our second-half performance even though we weren't clinical enough in scoring positions."

Slough do not have a fixture to fulfill this Saturday but return to action with a short trip to rivals and league leaders Windsor on Saturday 9th February (2.30pm).

Miles has acknowledged that Windsor will be heavy favourites to win the derby match at Home Park, but he hopes the Greenies can come away with a bonus point at least.

He explained: "It's another local derby and one we're all looking forward to, but Windsor are flying high and going for promotion. They look very good this season.

"We're under no illusions that Windsor will be heavy favourites but we will try to get the four tries to get a bonus point, although not many teams have done that against them."

Miles added: "It feels like we've been getting some momentum in our performances and training has been good.

"We will possibly lose some of that momentum because of the short break, but we have some injuries and niggles to players that could do with some time to recover.

"Others are feeling a little bit tired because it has been a hard season stepping up a level."