ANOTHER FA Trophy run for Wealdstone is now vital for club coffers and the players’ confidence according to boss Gordon Bartlett.

Stones begin their campaign in non-league’s biggest cup competition this Saturday at home to Southern League Division One Central side Chertsey – the start of a journey which will evoke memories in the minds of supporters of last year’s magical run to the semi-finals and the brink of Wembley.

Bartlett however, is never one to harp on about the past, but says following last Saturday’s FA Cup exit to league rivals Lowestoft his side must take this next chance to swell the bank balance at the Vale and kick-start a campaign which has so far been a bit flat.

He said: “Last year has gone and we are trying to work hard for this year. We do want a cup run because it is important financially as well. The FA Cup is enormous and we haven’t got that opportunity now and it is disappointing, but now we have to concentrate on Chertsey next Saturday and we won’t be taking that lightly just because they are in the league below.

“We have not sparked so far this season. We don’t look bright. We are passing it about, but there is no spark there about us and that is the disappointment.

“The passing is not exactly laboured, but we are not being effective with it and we need to change that.”

Bartlett admitted the cup exit to the Trawlerboys underlines the Suffolk side’s place as Ryman League title favourites and the gap his team needs to bridge if they are to compete for that honour.

He added: “This defeat does not make us a bad side – it just highlights again what I consider to be the best team in this league.

“The benchmark at the start of the season was Lowestoft because they finished third last year and my thoughts on that have been enhanced today. The disappointment is I think we had seven or eight players who played below the level they are capable of and consequently we made the job easier for them.”