TWO late goals consigned Pewsey Vale to their second consecutive Hellenic League Premier Division defeat at Didcot Town on Saturday 7 September.

Barry Flippance's first goal for the club since re-signing from Devizes Town in the summer proved in vain for the visitors, who were ultimately undone by two defensive lapses in the second half.

The defeat saw Pewsey slip into the bottom half of the Premier Division table, but manager Don Rogers refused to be downhearted following his side's performance at Didcot.

He said: "We did okay on Saturday until the final 15 minutes. They had most of the first half and we had most of the second half.

"We dominated the first 30 minutes of the half but it was all down to two defensive mistakes in the end and there is nothing you can do about that.

"Didcot weren't a bad team and tried to play some good football. I enjoyed the game, actually, and it wasn't a performance I could say was rubbish at all."

The prolific Flippance returned to the side at Didcot after two weeks out with a foot injury. Rogers believes the frontman's first half strike will be the first of many this term.

He said: "That is the first full game Barry has had and he's still not fully fit yet. He's someone who you are looking for to score 30 goals a season and you do miss him when he isn't in the side.

"He had one chance on Saturday and scored. He'll be a lot better for scoring. That will do him a lot of good."

Pewsey were the first to attack and Craig Wall was denied by an offside flag following a Flippance centre in the eighth minute. Wall was inches off target moments later when his shot hit the side netting.

The visitors then suffered a setback when they lost defender Stuart Hodson through injury early on, Adam Stephens replacing him.

Didcot broke the deadlock in the 21st minute when Ian Concannon capitalised on some slack Pewsey defending to fire home with the aid of a post.

Flippance restored parity just past the half hour mark following good work from Ross Anderson, and was denied a second two minutes after the break by a save from home goalkeeper Geoff Simmons. Anderson was on hand to rescue following another defensive error on the hour, but Pewsey fell behind for the second time to a Terry Morrissey goal in the 77th minute.

Pewsey threw on Mick McNally, and Brian Combellack for Mark Jordan and Wall, and both substitutes were soon in the action, McNally firing over the bar from Combellack's cross.

With the visitors searching for an equaliser, Concannon exposed further frailties at the back to wrap up the points for the hosts in the last minute.