FRANCIS Vines believes his Basingstoke Town players will have "no problems" putting their FA Cup heroics to the back of their minds - because they know how vital their Conference South basement battle with Hayes is on Saturday.
Proud Vines and his players have been in the national media spotlight this week following their superb 1-0 FA Cup win over Roy McFarland's Chesterfield last Saturday.
It was the shock of the first round as the team at the bottom of the Conference South overcame the odds to beat League One opponents - a side who have beaten both West Ham and Man City in the Carling Cup this season at Saltergate.
The FA Cup triumph was witnessed by nearly 500 Town supporters who travelled to Derbyshire to cheer Vines' men to glory and to revel in one of the greatest moments in the club's 110-year history.
In the aftermath of the success, the Sky Sports News cameras descended on the Camrose social club on Sunday to capture the Basingstoke reaction to the live FA Cup second round draw.
Hopes of a money-spinning second round tie were sadly dashed when Town were drawn to visit one of two fellow non-league teams - either Ryman Premier table-toppers Chelmsford or north Hampshire rivals and Nationwide Conference neighbours Aldershot.
Following their 1-1 draw, Town have to wait until next Tuesday and the replay at the Shots' Recreation Ground to find out who they will be facing on December 2.
But while Vines admitted "it is a very exciting time for everyone at the club - we've a great chance to get to the third round for the first-time ever", it is Saturday's crucial six-pointer at Hayes that he is now fully focused on.
And he promised that his players will be focused too as they seek to claim only their second league victory of the season against fellow strugglers who are just three points and two places above Town in 20th position.
The Town boss said: "The boys are buzzing and we cannot wait for the games to come - and Hayes is a big one. Every game is until we are out of the bottom and we are up the top.
"Last Saturday was a fantastic day and we have enjoyed it. Rightly so. Things like that don't happen in football very often during your career. But the lads won't be getting full of themselves. They know what I expect and what I want.
"It's great to be in the second round of the cup, but we are bottom of the table. There's still a lot of work to be done. We've got to start winning our games as we've drawn far too many."
Having rested 10 of his first-team players for the Hampshire Cup match against Gosport on Tuesday, Vines saw Town surrender their nine-match unbeaten streak with a 1-0 defeat.
While disappointed not to progress, Vines is more concerned with improving Town's league fortunes.
He said: "We've played three of the top six - Salisbury, Eastbourne and Fisher - recently and haven't lost. To be honest, we could have won them as well.
"But we're now playing teams down our end of the table - and these are the games we have to win.
"We really must win our games in hand on the teams above us - Farnborough, Hayes, Eastleigh, Thurrock - starting with Hayes.
"It's going to be a scrap, but we are prepared for that. I am sure the lads will be up for it as they have proved by the way we've come from behind to draw games.
"Maybe we shouldn't be down there at the bottom, but we haven't scored enough. If we had, we'd be top 10. But we've only scored 16 goals. That's not enough.
"There is a resilience about the side and a great spirit - but we have to start scoring more goals."
While the Town ranks are in buoyant mood, one blow materialised this week with the recall of loan duo Ben Wells and David Stroud to Swindon.
The promising young pair were in their second month on loan at Town and both starred in the win over Chesterfield, only to be recalled on Tuesday by new Swindon boss Paul Sturrock, who played them in the Wiltshire Shield that night.
Philosophical Vines said: "To be honest, as soon as Paul Sturrock was appointed Swindon manager last week, I had a feeling that this situation may occur.
"It's a shame for us that they won't be available any more and also for the two boys - they are going to miss an FA Cup second round match they helped get us to."
He added: "I do hope that both lads feel they have benefited from their time at the club. I would like to thank them for their valuable contributions - and I am sure that they will take happy memories of Saturday's match with them."
Their departure may yet help Vines rekindle his interest in acquiring young Brentford striker Scott Fitzgerald as he bids to solve what he feels has been the side's main failing this season - scoring goals.
On top of the loss of the Swindon pair, Town are without suspended left-back Robbie Watkins at Hayes following his red card against Fisher, but Vines said they will cope. "We are going there to win," he stated.
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