SKIPPER Dean Wells is at a loss to explain why Hampton & Richmond Borough have such a poor recent record in the FA Trophy.
The Beavers have fallen at the first hurdle in seven out of the last eight years.
Along the way, they have been slain by minnows like Arlesey, Newport IOW, Spalding, Bury Town and Windsor & Eton.
With Wells now into his sixth year at Beveree since joining from Brentford, he has been there for every painful minute of Hampton's Trophy upsets.
Both he and Beavers fans will be hoping another giant-killing is not in store when they take on Ryman One North side Concorde Rangers tomorrow (Saturday).
Wells said: "To be honest, I don't have a clue why we've done so badly, but it's nothing to do with concentrating on trying to get promotion. It doesn't matter if it's a friendly, a cup or league game, Dev (manager Alan Devonshire) never lets us take our foot off."
Wells is hoping victory over Concorde at the Beveree can bring some much-needed momentum.
He said: "Winning breeds confidence and we need that because we haven't been playing with consistency.
"When we beat Maidenhead 4-0, I thought we would kick on from there, but we went to Lewes and their keeper had a blinder and we were back to square one."
Wells was left cursing the weather after Hampton's game against Havant & Waterlooville was called off last weekend.
With Havant's resources stretched, it would have been an ideal occasion to play them and bag some much-needed points.
Wells added: "It would have been a good time to play them as they had three defenders out suspended and two other players injured, but you can't do anything about the weather."
