Hill: Win at Camrose is crucial
By Matt Pitman
Tuesday 8th November 2005
GARRY Hill has ordered his players to forget Nottingham Forest
when Weymouth return to Conference South action tonight.
The Terras resume their league campaign at Basingstoke Town
(7.45pm) where a win is crucial to their promotion hopes.
The trip to Camrose will be a far cry from the City Ground
last Saturday where 1,800 away fans saw Weymouth earn a spectacular
FA Cup first round draw
But boss Hill insists the bread and butter of league football
is far more important to Weymouth's long-term ambitions than
next week's cup replay.
He told Echosport: "The Forest occasion was a fantastic
day and we've got another big night to relish next week with
the replay.
"But we won't win the FA Cup and my priority is for
us to earn promotion from Conference South this season.
"Before the replay; we've got two league games, starting
tonight at Basingstoke and then at home to second place Welling
this Saturday, and those fixtures are crucial to us.
"We're currently eighth in the league, five points behind
leaders Lewes with three games in hand so two good results
over the next few days would give us a huge boost.
"We didn't go overboard celebrating the result at Forest
and although the players were allowed a couple of drinks,
there was nothing over the top.
"Days like that are more for the fans and myself and
coach Kevin Hales have told the players to forget all about
it and the replay and I'm sure they will.
Faith
"My squad are professional and have to stay focused
on the job in hand tonight because we can't afford any slip-ups.
"We'll need to work just as hard to get a result against
Basingstoke as at Forest did last weekend."
After such a spectacular performance, Hill is likely to keep
faith in Hampshire with the same starting eleven who were
on duty at the City Ground.
"The good thing is we have competition for places at
this football club and all the players know they have to be
on the top of their games at all times," he said.
"Every player earned their shirt last Saturday but tonight
is another game and another challenge so they'll need to do
it all over again."
With Wayne Purser visiting a specialist this week to discover
the full extent of his eye injury, Hill has moved swiftly
to sign Thurrock striker Craig O'Connor.
He said: "Craig has scored seven goals in 15 games for
Thurrock and we've signed him on a short-term contract and
will have a good look at him over the next few weeks.
"With plenty of games coming up and Wayne Purser injured,
up front was an area we needed to strengthen.
"Craig is a hard-working and competitive striker who
has a good record at Conference South level."
