DESPITE C&K Basildon’s 6-0 defeat at high-flying Coventry United, manager Steve Tilson admits that his side are not downhearted and are looking ahead to a month that could make or break their season.

Coventry United went into a commanding lead, with Alison Hall and a Helen Dermody brace giving the home side a 3-0 lead inside the opening ten minutes.

Ashleigh Neville added Coventry’s fourth just before half time, while Hall completed her hat-trick and Amber Hughes rounded off the scoring.

But Tilson is certain that injuries played a part in C&K Basildon’s humbling.

Tilson said: “We had five or six out through injury. We don’t carry a big squad so going into the game we didn’t expect too much.

“It doesn’t look good on paper. On the day we just weren’t good enough.

“The injuries didn’t help. That’s not to say even with a full-strength squad that we would have beaten them but it makes a huge difference.

“The girls and I are not downhearted because we are doing better than expected this season. We are still sixth in the league and I am pleased with that.”

C&K Basildon were defeated by the second-placed side 2-0 the previous week, and Tilson feels Coventry United are one of the favourites for promotion from the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division.

“Coventry United are a very good side,” added Tilson.

“I think it is out of them, Tottenham Hotspur and Cardiff City that will go up this year.

“To be honest, I think they are the best side we have played this season.”

The defeat to Coventry means that Tilson’s side go into the new year in sixth position, and a respectable 14 points from 12 games.

C&K Basildon’s first taste of action in 2017 will come in the form of an FA Cup tie against Keynsham Town in early January.

They will then travel to Hutton for an Essex County Women’s Cup clash the following week.

Tilson knows that his side need to get the new year off to a good start if they are to meet the targets he has set for his players.

The former Southend United boss confirmed: “We have got a really big January to look forward to.

“We have got the FA Cup and the Essex County Women’s Cup, as well as some big games against sides that are around us in the league.

“I set the girls a target of winning the Essex County Women’s Cup and finishing in the top six so if we want to achieve that, January is a big month for us.”

Tilson, who has also been in charge of Canvey Island during his managerial career, is hopeful that those ruled out of the Coventry defeat will be available after the Christmas break.

“Hopefully we’ll have some of the girls back for the next game and we can get some wins,” he said.