MARCH Town United manager Alan Russell hopes that a hard midweek training session has set his team up for tomorrow s FA Vase second qualifying round match at Lincoln Moorlands. Russell put his team through its paces during midweek in an attempt to raise m

MARCH Town United manager Alan Russell hopes that a hard midweek training session has set his team up for tomorrow's FA Vase second qualifying round match at Lincoln Moorlands.

Russell put his team through its paces during midweek in an attempt to raise morale following a disappointing result in Ridgeons League Division One on Saturday.

The Hares were unable to reproduce the excellent form they showed against Hadleigh United and threw away a one-goal lead to eventually lose 2-1 at Thetford Town.

March started well and opened the scoring on 20 minutes when Steve Thompson headed home but missed chances would eventually come back to haunt them.

Ashley Brand hit the post as March pushed forward but they were unable to extend their lead.

It all began to go wrong for the visitors 10 minutes before the break when keeper Trevor Marshall fumbled a corner and a Thetford player stabbed the ball home from close range.

Another defensive lapse was to cost the Hares the points and in the dying moments of the first half, Paul Cousins' challenge in the area gifted the home side with a penalty to take the lead.

March recovered from the set-back in the second half but were unable to forge any meaningful goal-scoring chances.

Russell said: "It was a silly penalty to give away and the lads have held their hands up and accepted their mistakes.

"We created enough chances to win the game but the goals really knocked the stuffing out of us and we couldn't seem to get back in to the game."

He added: "We have worked really hard in training this week and now the lads are really up for Saturday's game - we can't wait to get out there.

"It is a pity that we lost a game we could have easily won but we have to put that behind us now."

Russell admits to not knowing a lot about tomorrow's opponents. He said: "They are a bit of an unknown really. I have heard scraps of information about them and I know that they have a useful striker but that's about it."

March will be without Lawrie Brand who has now returned to university and the suspended Harry Roe.

- A COACH will be leaving the GER tomorrow morning for any fans wishing to travel to the Lincoln game. The coach leaves at 11am and travel costs £10.