ANDY Mason is calling on his Portland United troops to prove a point when they travel to Thatcham Town in the Sydenhams Wessex League tomorrow (3pm).

The islanders joint caretaker-boss reckons his side let themselves down on their last visit to Waterside Park which came in the Wessex League Cup back in December. On that occasion the Blues were thumped 5-2 by the Berkshire outfit with Chris Evans netting twice for the visitors.

Mason, who is expected to take the Grove Corner job on a permanent basis at the end of the season, said: "We played Thatcham on the Saturday in the league at Grove Corner and earned a respectable point from a 1-1 draw. The following Tuesday we went up there in the League Cup and really let ourselves down with a poor performance.

"Going to places like Thatcham and Newbury is not easy because those sort of sides are always pretty good on their home patch. But on our day we're a match for anyone in this division, home and away, and I want the boys to prove that's the case tomorrow.

"We've reached a stage of the season now when we really need to start stringing a few results together to just ease us out of danger once and for all. Once we've done that we can start casting an eye towards next year and make firm plans for the future.

"When you look at the quality throughout our side it's hard to fathom just why we've struggled the way we have in recent months. There are players at Portland who most Wessex League clubs would give their right-arm for and I'm confident we can be a real force in the not too distant future."

Missing tomorrow's trip will be striker James Reeve who has personal commitments although it's unlikely he would have played even if available.

"Revo pulled out of the team for Tuesday's postponed game against Downton with the flu," added Mason, "and there's no way he would have recovered in time.

"Goalkeeper Paul Myers would also have missed the Downton match because of family commitments but he's back available tomorrow as is Warren White who missed our defeat at Newbury the other week because he was playing for the county."

Blues: Myers, Bews, Kenway, Rodgers, Carter, Turrell, Whalley, White, Armstrong, Naylor, Laws, Mason, C Evans, N Evans, Whyton.

*Portland have told Weymouth that striker David Laws will not be available for their Dr Martens Cup quarter-final against Eastleigh next Wednesday.

Laws, who starred in the Terras last round victory over Bath City, will instead turn out for the Blues in a Two Counties Cup clash with Dorchester at Grove Corner on Tuesday.

Mason said: "If Dorchester had beaten Eastleigh then Lawsy would have been free to play for Weymouth against the Magpies next week. However, with Dorchester losing it now means we play them in the Two Counties Cup.

"Obviously Portland come first and I know Weymouth fully appreciate that fact. But the arrangement we've got with them regarding Lawsy is a good one and everyone is hoping the Terras make it to the Dr Martens Cup final and Lawsy plays and scores the winner."