GREG Mairs remains confident Loughborough Lightning are resilient enough to reach the AJ Bell National League final next month.

Their journey to the competition’s showpiece hit a stumbling block on Monday when they lost 3-2 at University of Nottingham.

The visitors had recovered from 2-0 down to force a decider.

Mairs, from Northwich, and mixed doubles partner Hope Warner - a 15-year-old standing in for injured Jenny Moore - fell to a narrow 7-9, 9-7, 9-7, 2-9, 5-3 reverse in a head-to-head with Adam Hall and Jess Pugh.

“We were underdogs, but you have to start the game believing you can win it,” he said.

“We’re disappointed not to, and it’s frustrating.

“You see other players get on good winning runs in the league, and it helps them to progress and play well in other tournaments too.

“I’m really competitive, and I hate losing.

“But I’m team player too, so for us to lose is hard to take.

“However we played well, and we’re still in contention for where we want to get to.”

Having already recorded a victory over Mairs and Warner in the opener, University of Nottingham appeared on course to a comfortable win when Li Lian Yang comfortably saw off Loughborough’s Chloe Birch in the women’s singles.

But Lightning were determined to spoil their hosts’ party, and pulled a point back in the men’s singles when Henri Hurskainen toppled Gordon Thomson (9-8, 5-9, 3-9, 7-9).

Birch and Jordan Hart were then victorious in the women’s doubles, restoring parity on aggregate at 2-2.

Peter Briggs and Harley Towler missed out in the men’s doubles, but Mairs and company remain second in the standings.

Only four points separate the top four, meaning a race for the title is on.

“I think we can still make the final,” added Mairs.

“We are all playing well enough.

“We’ve got Bristol Jets next in two weeks’ time, so a good win against them at home will definitely stand us in good stead to qualify.

“I think it will go down to our trip to Derby [on the final night] if I am honest; everything is that close.”

The AJ Bell National League final takes place on February 8 at centre:mk in Milton Keynes, offering a great value family night out.

Tickets to see the competition’s top two teams go head-to-head can be booked now at nationalbadmintonleague.co.uk