Frankie says 'relax'

4:25pm Thursday 9th October 2008

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FRANK Gray is taking nothing for granted ahead of Basingstoke Town’s FA Cup third qualifying round tie at home to Bashley.

The New Forest outfit may be in the bottom half of the Southern Premier League but they beat Blue Square South side Maidenhead United in the last round and will provide a stern test for a Town team who have failed to win a league game since January.

“They will be a decent side and are only one league below us, which does not mean a lot at this level,” Gray said. “Make no mistake, it will be a tough game and we have to be ready for it.”

Bashley have enjoyed a fast rise up the leagues in recent seasons but have not got this campaign off to the best start. They are currently 15th in the table, with 11 points from 10 games, and suffered heavy defeats at the hands of Corby and Cambridge City before claiming a 0-0 draw away at Hemel Hempstead Town on Tuesday night.

Basingstoke were also in action on Tuesday night, beating Wessex Premier outfit Hamble ASSC 4-0 to begin their defence of the Hampshire Senior Cup. The win was only the Blue Square South basement side’s second of the season – the other one coming in the previous round of the FA Cup.

Gray watched Bashley in Hampshire Senior Cup action at Winchester City last week and said his side must make sure they play their own game in the cup clash at the Camrose on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

“We have got to relax and make sure that we do not get dragged into the way they want to play,” the manager said. “We have to play in a way that suits us rather than them. We have got to play with a bit of confidence.”

The club that wins the tie will claim £7,500 in prize money but Gray is more concerned with keeping the cup run alive.

“The club will be looking at the money but the players will see it as a chance to progress to the next round,” he said. “We are only two games away from the first round with the league clubs and that is a good incentive.”

It is unlikely that centre-back Joe Dolan will recover from a calf problem in time to play but Gray expects fellow defender Jason Bristow to be fit after a few weeks out with a thigh strain.

Winger Sam Tucknott is said to be “touch and go” due to an ankle injury he picked up against St Albans but Tom Williamson, who missed the trip to Hamble with a shoulder problem, will return.

Town played with three at the back on Tuesday night. The system worked well, allowing Basingstoke to keep hold of the ball in midfield, and Gray indicated that he might be tempted to use it again at the weekend.

“We played 3-5-2 at Farnborough with some success but you need the right players in the right areas,” he said.

“We had not played it here in a serious game before but it worked and it’s something we are looking at for Saturday.”