PHIL Simkin aims to erase the memory of Dorchester’s FA Cup exit by grabbing victory at Staines Town tomorrow (3pm).
Last weekend’s defeat to Weston-super-Mare came as a huge disappointment to all concerned.
And although manager Ashley Vickers was later given the full backing of the county town board, missing out on the £4,500 prize money means the squad could be trimmed, or forced to take a pay cut, to help balance the books.
However, with a return to Blue Square Bet South action just 24 hours away, Simkin is fully focused on tomorrow’s trip to Wheatsheaf Park and a clash with a Staines side that has won just twice in the league thus far.
The assistant-boss said: “There are one or two things being sorted out as we speak, but we just need to put that to one side and prepare as normal for tomorrow.
“It’s disappointing we lost in the cup last weekend. We didn’t want to and we did our best not to lose but unfortunately events conspired against us.
“We can’t do anything about it now, all we can do is go to Staines, put in a performance and hope that, unlike recently, one or two things go our way.
“We’ve got more points at this stage of the season than we had last year so it’s not all doom and gloom. Staines is somewhere we went last year and got a win.
“Their record shows they’re not having the best of times so hopefully we can go and get something.
“It’s always difficult there because they have a good catchment area to get players in, but we go there, as always, confident that we can get something from the game.”
The Massive lie three points below the 16th-placed Magpies but did win through to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup this week, albeit at the second attempt against lower-league Beaconsfield.
Simkin added: “I haven’t had a chance to watch them but I’ve made a few phone calls and spoken to people who have played against them recently so we will know what we are up against.
“Whoever you play in this league, you know you have a game on your hands. They will be desperate to kick-start their season so we have to be geared up for it.”
On the subject of Vickers’ vote of confidence, Simkin said: “I’m absolutely delighted. We have become good friends and he knows I will always support him. I just hope we have a change in fortunes.
“It’s good that the uncertainty has been taken away and we can now move forward and hopefully get a run going.”
Nick Crittenden, Mark Jermyn and Nathan Peprah-Annan remain sidelined while Gary Bowles is suspended.
However, Ashley Nicholls is hoping to recover from a recent hamstring problem.
Magpies (from): Walker-Harris, Jordan, Tallack, Martin, Smeeton, Critchell, N Walker, Vickers, Bell, Gleeson, Nicholls, Dovell, Symes, Devlin, Flood, Dickenson, Moss, Wilson.
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