DIVISION ONE SOUTH AND WEST Thatcham Town 1 Uxbridge 0

Tony Choules set misfiring Uxbridge a challenge of winning 15 of their last 20 games following a narrow defeat away to Thatcham Town.

The Reds missed a number of opportunities before conceding a 77th minute winner as they succumbed to their third successive loss at the hands of one of the sides Uxbridge will have to catch if they are to extend their season.

The result meant the Reds have taken just six points from the last 21 and they need an immediate turnaround in form if they are to make any impression on the league this season, having slipped 13 points off the play-off zone.

"We're not giving up lightly," said Choules. "There's 20 games left, I'm going to be ultra demanding and say we've got to win 15 of those, which is a very hard task but the squad we've got is capable of achieving it.

"We had a fantastic run last year to get there and there are things happening in the league with clubs cutting back.

"If we can get a run together we can nick it."

Dave Lawrence had a wonderful chance to open the scoring early on but he shot just wide of the far post following Wayne Carter's fine pass.

Lee Tunnell was unable to beat Paul Strudley with a lob and the keeper later got safely behind a firm Lawrence strike, while in between Mario Nurse had a clear opportunity for the hosts which he slid wide.

Stefan Brown flashed a header past Matt Burton's goal, who was again standing in for Paul McCarthy (leg), at the start of the second half, yet several times Uxbridge might have taken the lead only for David Warner to fire wide, the same man was foiled by Strudley and Lawrence could not beat him from 12 yards either.

Then came the decisive moment as Brown headed home Dean Stow's near post cross.

Uxbridge tried to fight back and in the final minute Tunnell had a glorious chance to snatch a point after Kevin Warner laid the ball on a plate only to see the striker hit wide.

"We felt we did enough to win the game," Choules added. "I was looking for a response after the fiasco on Tuesday.

"I got that but unfortunately we weren't at the races in front of goal." UXBRIDGE: Burton, Brown, Thomas, Wharton, Baptiste, Davies, Lawrence, K Warner, Tunnell, Carter (Tilbury 82), D Warner. Subs not used: Reynolds, Fox, Tarr.

Goals, Thatcham: Brown 77. Uxbridge: None. Attendance: 96.

The reserves drew 0-0 at home to Whyteleafe in the Suburban League Premier Division.