JASON Bristow says that Basingstoke Town must put their FA Cup disappointment behind them as they look to get their Vanarama Conference South title challenge back on track.

The Dragons went out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat away at AFC Telford United in a first round replay on Tuesday night, a result that means they have not won any of their last six games inside 90 minutes.

They have been knocked off the top of the table after losing their last two outings in the league, but they remain very much in title contention, five points behind the leaders with games in hand over the three sides above them.

With the distraction of the FA Cup a thing of the past, Town must now refocus on their league campaign.

They face a busy week of action, with a trip to Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) followed by a top-of-the-table clash against Bromley at The Soccer AM Stadium on Tuesday (7.45pm).

“There were some really deflated players after Telford, but we have to dust ourselves down,” manager Bristow said. “We’ve got to make sure we get back to winning ways in the league now because we do not want to allow a gap to open up between us and the top of the table.

“I think we have made progress over the last couple of years. It’s November and we have just been knocked off the top of the table, so we have come a long way as a club and I hope that development continues.”

Hemel Hempstead won 1-0 when they travelled to The Soccer AM Stadium on the opening day of the season and while they endured a difficult spell after that, they have hit form in recent weeks.

Their only defeat in their last 10 games came at the hands of League Two outfit Bury in the FA Cup, while they have won their last three league matches to move up to 13th in the table.

“Hemel are a good side and they seem to have found their feet in this league now,” Bristow said.

“They are well organised and they played well when they beat us on the first day of the season.

“It’s a game that we really want to win. We did not get our rewards on Tuesday and we need to bounce back with a win on Saturday, whether we win ugly or pretty.”

Town will be without strikers Liam Enver-Marum and Sam Argent for both games this week, but after a spell where Bristow was really struggling with injuries, they are the only players missing.

The draw for the third and final qualifying round of the FA Trophy was made on Monday, with Town being handed a home tie against fellow Conference South outfit Whitehawk. The game will be played on November 29.