ROYAL Wootton Bassett Town manager Paul Braithwaite is hoping that an influx of returning players will help his side banish the spectre of their hammering at the hands of Flackwell Heath last weekend.

Bassett make the trip to Lydney Town tonight (kick-off 7.45pm) looking to get back on an even keel following their 7-2 hammering by last season’s Hellenic League Premier Division champions Flackwell at their new Gerrard Buxton Sports Ground last weekend.

Braithwaite’s men, who have won two of their opening four games, are set to be bolstered by the return of defenders George Drewitt and Nathan Hawkins this evening, while midfielders Steve Olphert, Harvey Scholes, Jack Ellis and Ryan Thomas are also in contention to return to the matchday squad.

“We’ve got six players coming back into the squad for this game, so hopefully that will help give us a bit of a boost,” said the Bassett chief.

“The Flackwell game was obviously a very disappointing result but we just need to draw a line under that as quickly as we can and get back to what we were doing in our first four games before Saturday, and in the first-half against them too.

“Lydney are a big, strong side, so we’re going to have to be ready to deal with that but we’re not going there thinking about Lydney – we’re going there thinking about Bassett.

“We’re focused on what we can do in that game and trying to come away with a good result.”

Lydney have picked up just one win from their opening five matches so far this season and most recently drew 0-0 with Milton United last Saturday.