PHIL Simkin is confident his wounded troops will provide the necessary response to their heaviest defeat in 14 months when they entertain Basingstoke Town in FA Cup action tomorrow (3pm).

Tuesday night saw the second-placed Magpies fall to a 4-0 loss in their top-of-the-table clash with early pacesetters Salisbury City.

The result was Dorchester’s worst since the opening day of last season but tomorrow’s third qualifying round tie, which carries a £7,500 prize, provides an ideal opportunity to lift the mood.

And manager Simkin has faith his men will do just that. He told Echosport: “I have been in the game long enough to know how people react to things.

“Tomorrow is a perfect chance to bounce back after Tuesday night and I know the players well enough to know they will respond to that defeat.

“It’s a massive game and we will of course be looking to win it, as well as the money that goes with it.

“We may go into tomorrow playing slightly different, I haven’t decided as yet.”

Reflecting on the Wiltshire reverse, Simkin added: “We have to put Tuesday night into context. We didn’t play particularly well but we weren’t allowed to play.

“Salisbury are full-time professionals and it was like playing a Football League club. They packed the midfield and stopped us playing.

“They were too good for us on the night and if they don’t win the league then there is something wrong.

“I would have hoped we could do better than we did but everything they did came off and everything seemed to drop for them.”

Tomorrow’s visitors also ply their trade in Blue Square Bet South where they currently lie 10th, six points adrift of the county town side.

’Stoke disposed of Weymouth in the previous round and boast one of the league’s leading marksmen in Tim Sills – who has seven goals in all competitions.

Assessing his opponents, Simkin said: “We know enough about them to know they are a dangerous side.

“With Tim Sills up front they will look to put crosses in the box at every opportunity as he is so good in the air, but I would like to think we can cancel him out.

“Delano Sam-Yorke is a powerhouse as well but they are beatable and there is no reason for us to fear anyone at home. Our performances on our travels are a bit of a concern at the moment though. It used to be the other way round.

“I know what is coming our way tomorrow but I would like to think we have enough to get a result.”

Magpies (from): Matthews, Jermyn, Bell, Martin, Smeeton, Clough, Walker, Pugh, Gleeson, Nicholls, Morgan, Crittenden, Symes, Ward, Gosling, Garcia, Malsom, Watson, Reid.