Born in Ascot, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder joined the Hawks last November from National League club Aldershot Town, where he played for their B team.

After starting his career with Grimsby Town's Under 18s, he went on to play for several clubs, including Hayes & Yeading, Thatcham, Moneyfields and Uxbridge.

Six-footer Thorpe was among seven players released this month by Havant & Waterlooville, who sat second from the bottom of the table after winning just two of their first 13 matches. Recently-appointed managers Pat Suraci and Joe Lea have also made six new signings in a bid to turn their season around.

The Hampshire club's away record is particularly poor with six defeats, while the Bottom Meadow men have just one point from seven road trips.

Town's latest reverse came last Tuesday when they crashed 4-0 at Taunton and, to add to their dismay, had Harry Cooksley sent off after two yellow cards.

The influential midfielder received his first caution in the 62nd minute, and the second in the 75th. By then, however, the game had already been lost.

Bracknell defended well in the opening 45 minutes, although they had a close escape when Ben Seymour's curling effort rattled the crossbar, with keeper Gio Clarke keeping the rebound out.

A goal-line clearance was also needed to prevent Jay Murray from putting the Peacocks ahead before half-time.

But it all went downhill for Adam Hopkins' men in the second half in front of a crowd of 382.

Five minutes after the restart, Taunton skipper Nick Grimes headed past Clarke, and seven minutes later, Ben Seymour doubled his side's lead.

Harry Hamblin squandered a good chance for Bracknell, blasting the ball over the bar from around 12 yards out, before Max Davies unleashed a brilliant volley for Taunton's third goal in the 68th minute.

Soon after, Cooksley received his red card, and Town immediately made two changes, with Josh McMenemy and Tom Jackson replacing skipper Adam Liddle and Josh Brooking.

But the Robins looked well beaten, and they conceded a fourth goal to Alfie Moulden in the 80th minute, blasting home a free kick from around 25 yards.

It was the sixth time this season Taunton have netted four in a game, and they are the division's top scorers with 32 goals.

After having the weekend off, Bracknell were scheduled to host Gosport Borough last night (Tuesday) and are away to Evesham United this coming Saturday.

Evesham, who crashed 4-1 at home to Taunton last month, don't have a particularly good record at Spiers & Hartwell Jubilee Stadium, recording two wins and a draw in seven league games.

So this could be a good chance for the Robins to pick up all three points on the road, but they will be missing the influential Cooksley due to suspension.

The corresponding game last season ended in a 1-1 draw, with Jordan Esprit's first-half strike being cancelled out by a late penalty.

Next Tuesday (3rd) Bracknell will host Chertsey, and that will see several players returning to Bottom Meadow.

Seb Bowerman, Gary Abisogun, Nathan Minhas, Darryl Harrison and Joe Grant were all in the squad which won 4-0 at Essex club Takeley in the first round of the FA Trophy last Saturday, with Abisogun and Bowerman among the scorers. Another ex-Robin, Ashley Lodge, also plays for the Curfews.