WEALDSTONE boss Gordon Bartlett reckons an FA Trophy triumph over Croydon Athletic this weekend could be the catalyst for a change in their league fortunes after a miserable week was capped by another harsh defeat on Tuesday night.

The self-imploding Stones were sank by a last-gasp winner as Canvey Island prevailed 3-2 at Grosvenor Vale in a match bossed by the hosts.

It was the same old story for the blue and whites, who dominated their previous two games against Richard Jolly's Carshalton Athletic and AFC Hornchurch, only to be rewarded with a meagre point.

However, with Ryman Division One South strugglers Croydon the next visitors to Ruislip Manor on Saturday (3pm kick off), Bartlett is targeting a win to kick-start his team's stuttering league form.

"There is a belief in the side," he said. "The players are committed to the club and I've got to commit myself to them. I still believe this is one of the best squads we've assembled. We've not had the best of fortunes so far but these things tend to balance out.

"Little things keep trying to go against you and you can either lay down and die or brush yourself down and fight it, and that is what we are doing. It was a cruel blow (losing to Canvey) but we've got to do something to turn the tide," he added.

However, Bartlett is aware Saturday's First Round Qualifying tie with the Rams is a potential banana skin. Dave Garland's men are second bottom of their league with just two wins from 10 games but ended a four game losing streak with a 2-2 draw at Folke-stone Invicta on Tuesday night.

"I don't know a great deal about them," admitted Bartlett. "They started very well but had a poor period and we will do our homework between now and the weekend.

"On paper it is a game we should win and it doesn't matter what sort of game it is, we just need to get the ball rolling and somewhere along the line we will get that change in fortune. I went into the last two games expecting to win, such is the faith I have in my players, and Saturday's game is no different."

The Stones manager is under no illusions how important a good run in the FA Trophy is after their early FA Cup exit and knows a welcome victory could appease everyone associated with the club.

"We did alright in this competition last season but, having not had the best of starts in the league and being out of the FA Cup, we really need this, not just for the result but also for the financial benefits," added the manager.

"We have to look at things from the point of view of the board, the players and the fans.

"We all share the sense of frustration that is around at the moment and it hurts, no matter what association you have with the club. I believe in the players and my own ability and we will turn it around."

One man Bartlett will definitely be without for Saturday is on-loan striker Gavin James.

The 19-year-old bagged both goals against Canvey but his parent club, Maidenhead United, have ordered the Stones not to play him against the Rams to prevent him from becoming cup-tied.

"We're disappointed that we can't use him on Saturday ," said Bartlett, who will also be without the suspended James Gray. "All strikers need goals and they would have done him the world of good. It's still early days for him as he is not 100 per cent fit but we needed something and I'm delighted to have Gavin on board."

Bartlett went against his pre-season pledge not to use the loan system this season when he brought in James, but he is keen to extend the initial one month loan, providing United boss Drax Hippolyte allows it and Bartlett fails to draft in another striker.

"We looked at Gavin as a stopgap while we could get hold of someone but two or three turned me down at the time," revealed the Stones boss.

"When his loan period nears an end me and Drax will have a chat about it. It depends on our situation and if we've been able to get someone in and also how Maid-enhead are doing.

"If they are playing well and scoring goals Drax might not need him and I'm sure we could have him a bit longer. The more senior football he gets the more he will benefit."

Meanwhile, transfer-listed Dean Papali has gone to AFC Hayes on a month's loan.