Baffins boss Wilkinson previews Wessex League opener at Alresford: 'It takes time for new ideas and new players to come together’

The new manager felt his team failed to play in their 2-1 midweek FA Cup home defeat against divisional rivals AFC Stoneham.

'The most important thing after losing is how you react,' said Wilkinson.

'Going out of the FA Cup was disappointing but we can't afford to dwell on it.

'I am looking for a lot more from my creative attacking players because they weren't on their game in the cup tie.

'At any level you cannot afford to carry four or five players.

'It was frustrating, particularly as we were in front at half-time.

'We didn't go on and finish the job.'

Wilkinson will go with pretty much the same squad, though he may decide to draft in a couple of players dual signed with Chichester City.

The Sussex side have a friendly with Bognor Regis tonight and Wilkinson will wait to see how they come out of that.

'We are at the start of a new process with the club undergoing a big overhaul, both on and off the pitch,' he outlined.

'In football things take time, though you hope it will happen sooner or later.

'It takes time for new ideas and new players to come together.

'If the players continue to take things on board, then I am sure we will be successful.'

Alresford were top of the Wessex Premier when life went into lockdown in March. After chairman Stuart Munro and boss Rich Luffman both left the club, the squad broke up.

Not one member of last season’s regular team was in the side that lost 1-0 to divisional rivals Tadley in Tuesday’s FA Cup extra preliminary round tie.