ALMONDSBURY TOWN boss Richard Thompson admits his side face a “mammoth task” trying to catch Hellenic League Premier Division leaders Reading Town, writes Rob Iles.

While the Almonds needed extra-time and penalties to beat Division One East outfit Holyport in the Bluefin Insurance Brokers Challenge Cup on Saturday, Reading gained another league win to move 16 points clear of Thompson’s side.

Almondsbury, who have played five games less than Reading, have also dropped down to third behind Wantage and are set for their first league game since December 15 on Saturday when they welcome Highworth Town to Oaklands Park on Saturday (3pm).

Thompson said: “We’re so many games behind Reading, it’s a mammoth task but we’ll keep going out and trying to win the games.

“We’ve not just lost games to the weather. The backlog is getting horrendous but it’s just midweek games, it’s nothing like three games a week.”

Almondsbury did at least get two games under their belt last week, with a 4-2 victory over Cheltenham Saracens in the GFA Challenge Trophy third round before knocking out Holyport in the Challenge Cup second round.

Aaron Lennon gave Holyport a first half lead but the lively Aaron Blakemore scored his first goal for the Almonds in the second period.

The game ended 1-1 after extra-time before Almondsbury won the penalty shootout 4-3.

Thompson said: “The first half was fine and then in the second half and extra time we were feeling the pace of it after a five-week break but it’s out of our system now.

“With two cup games, it was good to blow the cobwebs out.”