ALEX Browne reckons if his Dorchester side can knock Weymouth out of the FA Cup on Saturday it will go a long way towards burying the nightmare of that 8-0 Boxing Day thrashing last season.

"We got a bit of pride back when we drew with them on New Year's Day at our place but that 8-0 still hurts," said the former Terras skipper who switched to the Avenue Stadium after 14 years at the Wessex.

"Unfortunately that result will stay in the record books for ever - but putting them out of the Cup on Saturday would definitely ease the pain !

"We just have to forget about it and hope that it doesn't happen again. I don't think it will because we have grown in stature as a team since what was a desperately disappointing day for us."

Browne made over 500 appearances for the Terras before being told new boss Steve Claridge was not prepared to renew his contract until he had proved himself.

Magpies Mark Morris quickly stepped in to snap up the former England youth international when he became a free agent - despite detractors' comments about a lack of pace - and the 31-year-old has fully justified his faith with some inspirational performances.

However he takes no satisfaction from Claridge's current plight as his under-achieving side struggles to live up to the pre-season hype over their promotion hopes - or talk that Cup defeat by the Magpies could precipitate his departure - and stresses that "we just want to win on Saturday for Dorchester"

"What goes on down there doesn't really interest us, we just want to have a good run in the Cup and they are standing in our way," he added.

For one player, next Saturday's encounter will be a first experience of facing a local derby 'on the other side'.

Mark Robinson followed in Browne's footsteps when he signed for the Magpies in the summer after Weymouth let him go and he has already made a big impression despite his appearances so far being cut by injury and work commitments.

The Magpies have won all of the games in which he has started and played the full 90 minutes and Browne says he is proving to be a lucky mascot.

"He would be the first to admit he has had injury problems, but when he is in the side he gives us a different dimension and it's important he plays against Weymouth," said Browne.

"There's no two ways about it - he will find it a bit strange playing against some of his old team-mates. But he's a very level-headed lad with plenty of experience and I am sure he doesn't need any advice from me on how to handle it."