Boss on Trophy replay selection policy
A lack of reserve team and development games in recent weeks could mean a change in personnel for the Town in Tuesday night’s FA Trophy first round replay against Dorchester Town.
Boss Paul Buckle hinted that he may swap things around for the third successive clash with the Magpies with a number of senior pros champing at the bit to be involved.
The Hatters have not played a development game since a 1-0 victory over Gillingham on 23rd October and, while he was sure that changes would be made, Buckle was adamant it would not be an under-strength side that look to book a second round date with Matlock.
“As I always say it’s about the next game and the FA Trophy game is the next one and it’s one we want to win,” said Buckle. “We haven’t had a development game at all recently so it’s been difficult for players who have not had games to stay match-fit and sharp.
“I’ll sit down with the staff and think about what kind of side to field but I’ll select a strong team that I think is capable of winning the game.
“There might be changes and, if there are, there will be reasons behind them. It won’t be an under-strength team. If we didn’t think those players were capable then they wouldn’t be at the club.
“Now we have the FA Cup out of the way it gives me a chance to look at the whole squad but we mustn’t take our eye of the ball. We want to continue our unbeaten run.
“The games are coming thick and fast and I’ll look to utilise the whole squad.”
The Hatters go into the tie off the back of a 2-1 victory in the FA Cup on Saturday and Buckle believes the Magpies will continue from where they left off on Saturday.
“I think they will go for a bit more,” said the manager. “By their own manager’s admission they perhaps gave us a little too much respect on Saturday.
“They sat off us and until they scored they hadn’t had a shot at our goal. We were the dominant force.
“They are a good side with a lot of ex-Football League players. The gap between the two teams is only one league and they have already proved that they are a solid outfit.
“However, so are we. We have been ultra professional in the games against them so far and that will continue tomorrow night.”
Buckle is likely to rest defender Dean Beckwith after the centre-half broke his nose in the 2-1 win at the weekend.
Fellow centre-half Simon Ainge is available for selection having been cup-tied for the FA Cup game whilst Greg Taylor has returned from his loan spell at Tamworth. However the left-back is cup-tied having already featured in the FA Trophy for the Lambs.