HIGHWORTH Town boss John Fisher admitted his side had one eye on next weekend’s FA Vase clash with Bradford Town as they lost 1-0 away to Binfield in the Premier Division on Saturday.

With that cup game in mind, a few players were rested for the visitors and, after being reduced to 10 men in the first half, it was always going to be an uphill battle.

The goal came for the hosts after 37 minutes when defender Callum Whitty was able to turn the ball home.

Binfield had a corner that was defended by Highworth, but the ball was returned into the box and Whitty was able to get across the line of the Town back four to flick the ball in.

Things got worse for Town when Callum Parsons was sent off in the first half for a two-footed tackle on Seb Bowerman.

But Highworth re-grouped at half time, showed good spirit in the second half and could have nicked a point.

“I was a bit disappointed but I think we had our eye on next week,” said Fisher, who admitted that the league is now out of their reach following the defeat.

“I could see at half time that some of the boys had their eye on next week and I would be a liar to say if I had been playing I wouldn’t have been the same.

“Fair play to the lads though, they went back out second half and could have got back into it.

“Binfield are a decent side. They have got some real good players and I think they should be higher up the league than they are.

“It is disappointing but next week is the more important thing for us.

“What the actual prize is next week (they face Bradford in the last 16 of the FA Vase), to get the chance to play at Wembley is massive for any amateur footballer.

“That is our league gone now, there is no point me saying any different, we would have to win ten on the bounce really.

“We’ve just got to give a good account of ourselves now.”

One of the players rested by Fisher ahead of next weekend’s cup game was TJ Bohane.

However the forward had to be brought on in the first half, before later being substituted after picking up a yellow card for a dive in the box.

“TJ should have had a penalty in the second half. The linesman has flagged, for what we thought was a penalty, but instead it was for diving, even all their back four said it was a penalty afterwards,” added Fisher.

“TJ of course got booked for diving so I had to take him off. I have never subbed a sub, but I did for the first time yesterday.”

Wootton Bassett Town’s home clash with Flackwell Heath was postponed.