WORCESTER Raiders first team coach Tom Dale says that his side will continue to aim for play off competition this season while it remains mathematically possible.
Raiders currently side five points off the play off spots with six games of their Hellenic Premier League campaign remaining. However they have played more times than every side sat above them in the division.
Most recently they took a 3-1 loss to first-placed Hartpury University.
"It was always going to be difficult," said Dale, reflecting on the game. "25 games unbeaten in the league. We knew coming up against them they would have a lot of the ball - it's the way they like to play.
"We set up for that and I thought we nullified them very well - particularly in the first half. We kept them to long-range efforts and maybe an effort from a free kick out wide.
"It's always disappointing to concede just on the cusp of half time. Just a lapse of concentration and give away a penalty but at half time we were still very happy with the way that we played.
"Second half we didn't start quite as brightly as we would have liked to. Going 2-0 down, any lapses of concentration against a side like that and they will punish you.
"[Jordan] Murphy got us back in the game - I thought the goal was very, very well-worked. But we conceded two minutes after we scored. It felt like we had worked so hard to get the goal and then our work was undone by a third lapse of concentration."
This weekend the side will hope to grab a bounce-back win against a struggling Longlevens side.
"We're confident going in. Obviously the squad of players we've got is unbelievably strong so we feel like we've got enough but they're no mean feat. They've got a good side, a good management team and some good players. They won't be taken lightly," he said.
"It is going to be a very different game. We knew Hartpury would have a lot of the ball - it's the way that they play. We feel that we will probably have more of the ball against Longlevens."
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Sitting in eighth position at this points, Raider's play off hopes have not subsided yet.
"Whilst [play offs] is possible we are always going to aim for it," said Dale. "We feel that there is still something to do in the league, a lot of work to be done still.
"Virtually all season teams are beating teams in-and-around each other. The league is so unpredictable and whilst it is still achievable to get play offs it is always going to be our aim. While it is still mathematically possible that will always be our goal."
In the back of their mind Raiders will have one eye on their midweek fixture against Worcester City in the County Cup next week.
"When the fixture was announced and the day it was confirmed it's one that everyone is looking forward to. It's a local derby and there will be plenty through the gate you would imagine," said Dale.
"We have got to look at the Longlevens game first really. We've got to look at the league. We will focus on Longlevens first but there is always going to be a bit of a look at that Worcester City game and keeping an eye on it, counting down the days."