BASINGSTOKE Town manager Ernie Howe is hoping his side's impressive away form will inspire a history-making victory over King's Lynn in the FA Trophy.

Town - who have reached the third round of the national competition for the first time - face a real challenge in Norfolk if they are to progress and earn a cash bonus of £4,000 for doing so. However, their performances on the road have been significantly better than those at the Camrose.

Town have only lost three away games all season - the last defeat came on November 15 at Bedford - and Howe would like that run to continue tomorrow in what he describes as a "make-or-break" game for his team's season.

He added: "Our displays away from home have been very good. It's something I still can't really put my finger on why, but of course I'd like us to continue that form.

"It's a big test for us tomorrow. We have to go there, play with discipline and believe in ourselves. We don't want to give them any encouragement with an early mistake. They're playing with confidence and scoring goals - but they certainly aren't unbeatable."

Howe missed last Saturday's Bryco cup exit at the Camrose because he was watching King's Lynn maintain second spot in the Dr Martens eastern division. They thrashed Chatham Town 6-0.

Howe said Town have put the Ashford result well and truly behind them and are fully focused on the task in hand.

The opposition have been watched three times in recent weeks, so Howe knows what his side is up against.

He said: "King's Lynn are a good, experienced side and I liked the way they punished the opposition and did the simple things well on Saturday.

"They will certainly look to get at us, so we will have to concentrate defensively. But that's not the area where we've had problems of late."

Now that they have tightened up at the back, with David Ray deployed as sweeper, accuracy in front of goal is Town's current failing. However, Howe is confident his misfiring strikers Craig McAllister and Neville Roach will cause problems for the King's Lynn back line.

He said: "We haven't been converting our opportunities and their confidence has been affected. It's been giving the opposition a lift as well when they see that, and we've been defending more deeply to protect our goal. That's something we are determined not to do at King's Lynn.

"As any striker will tell you, when confidence is fragile they start taking extra touches and then the chance is gone. But good players don't become bad ones overnight. It could be that one scrappy goal is all it takes to get them scoring again.

"I saw enough to know Macca and Roachy will cause King's Lynn problems. They've a big pitch and that will suit us too.

"Our creative play has been good for a number of weeks in games, but we haven't finished it off. As you know, goals win games. But we've had two good training sessions this week and I'm sure we will start scoring again very soon."

Jason Bristow returns to the defence after being rested for last Saturday's league cup tie. Midfielder Efon Elad is still out injured.

It will be a long day for Town's players, who leave the Camrose for East Anglia at 8am tomorrow. However, Howe is confident his charges will not be affected by the lengthy journey and believes they can get a result at The Walks Stadium.

He said: "Our preparation will be right. We're leaving nice and early and the lads will be stopping at a quality hotel and getting a good meal before the match.

"It's a game we are looking forward to. We want to stay in this national competition."

See The Monday Gazette for our match report on the FA Trophy game.