ERNIE HOWE believes an air of optimism and confidence is returning to his Basingstoke Town side after their FA Trophy triumph took their unbeaten run to four matches.

Howe was delighted with Town's 1-0 replay win over Chippenham and said he could sense things on the pitch, and among his players mentally, were beginning to improve.

Tuesday night's home triumph ensured progression to the third round of the FA Trophy for the first time in the club's history.

It also netted the club a £3,000 win bonus - a vital and much-needed cash boost with finances still tight at the Camrose.

Speaking after the game, Howe said: "That was the important thing - winning the game and getting the £3,000 in the bank.

"I thought we deserved to go through, especially when you look at the chances we had over the two games. We were the better side in both matches.

"Chippenham shouldn't have really been here - their equaliser on Saturday was very fortunate. But we have finished the job off tonight. I'm very pleased we are in the next round. It's the first time we've got this far."

Town's reward for winning is an away clash at Dr Marten's eastern division side King's Lynn in Norfolk on January 10, 2004.

Howe said: "It's a long way off and we don't need to think about it until after Christmas. But it's nice we have a national competition to look forward to."

Tuesday's match was one where Town should have been cruising by half-time, but like they did in their first meeting with Chippenham in Wiltshire, the Blues were guilty of profligacy.

Craig McAllister and Alex Ewin both missed from 12-yards with just the goalkeeper to beat, the duo poking wide on each occasion when a goal looked certain.

Neville Roach and Jason Bristow - who marked ex-Town striker Adie Mings out of the game - also had good opportunities, but it took a magnificent point-blank, one-on-one stop from Scott Tarr to keep things level five minutes after the re-start.

It was Roach's skill that eventually brought a penalty in the 72nd minute. This was despatched by McAllister to give Town a slender margin of victory.

Howe added: "I sense we are beginning to grow a little bit in terms of confidence and belief.

We seem to be a little bit more determined, are defending better with the change to the system we've made, and Roachy is getting back to form up front.

"We're unbeaten in four now, and that's good. It's our best run of the season so far. There's still a lot of work to be done on things, and that's what we'll keep on doing.

"We've got some important league games to focus on, starting with Kingstonian tomorrow, and then Canvey next week."