FRANCIS Vines hopes his Basingstoke Town side will gain some measure of revenge over Bedford for their galling last-minute Conference South defeat earlier this season when the two clubs meet in the FA Trophy on Saturday.

Although bottom-of-the-table Town are desperate to improve their league fortunes - especially so given Vines' disappointment with their 1-1 draw in the basement battle with Hayes last Saturday - cup football, once more, takes precedence this weekend.

Saturday's third qualifying round clash at the Camrose, kick-off 3pm, sees Vines' men bidding to replicate their FA Cup form in another national competition.

After beating League One Chesterfield 1-0 two weeks ago at Saltergate, Town are in the second round proper of the FA Cup for the first time since 1997. They will meet rivals Aldershot on December 2 to battle for an historic third round spot, after the Shots won Tuesday's replay against Chelmsford 2-0.

"It's an occasion the whole club is very excited about," said Vines. "We've a great chance of getting through."

But before that clash, the Town boss wants to see his players lay down a psychological marker by defeating Bedford, who claimed a smash-and-grab victory in Basingstoke back on September 2, when Aaron Cavill scored in the 89th minute with a wind-assisted thunder-bolt strike.

Vines said: "Bedford getting a late winner was gutting. We had all the play that day - 5-0 wouldn't have flattered us. So we owe Bedford one this Saturday."

Vines is also hoping for a large home support, given it's the only Camrose fixture of November, after the Havant league match was postponed due to FA Cup commitments, and the revenue is sorely needed.

"On the back of our FA Cup run, it'll be interesting to see what sort of crowd we get at home on Saturday," he said. "We had nearly 500 up at Chesterfield - and the support they gave us was absolutely fantastic. They cheered us from start to finish.

"Hopefully, most of them will be at the Camrose on Saturday and we will produce a performance to keep them coming back."

  • Basingstoke Town have an allocation of tickets for the Aldershot match which go on sale to season ticket-holders and Junior Dragons on Saturday at 5.30pm, and on Sunday between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.

Remaining tickets will go on general sale at 1.30pm on Sunday.