Henman's rallying call

Magpies' chief Matty Henman has urged his players not to let a serious double injury blow derail their flying start to their Ridgeons League Premier Division campaign.

Magpies' chief Matty Henman has urged his players not to let a serious double injury blow derail their flying start to their Ridgeons League Premier Division campaign.

The full-blooded FA Vase encounter claimed casualties on both sides, with defenders Matthew Cross and Jay Eastoe Smith, stretchered off with knee injuries in a second half which had 14 minutes of injury time.

'I'm gutted now but I've already said to the lads it's important how we react,' said Henman. 'We've had a great start to the league season and we need to make sure this doesn't affect what we want to do in the league because we have high hopes there.

'We have shown here we have some good footballers but we just ran out of bodies with losing the two lads and having to carry Sam (Willis) at left-back who was struggling with a knee and Robbo (Scott Roberts) with illness.

'I think perhaps those little things are what decided the game. I wish Lynn all the best and we'll concentrate on the league, League Cup and Senior Cup. I think we can still have a great season but we have to make sure we don't turn this into more than it should be.'

Full-back Cross was set for a precautionary hospital check-up after a robust challenge from Pat Bexfield that earned the former Norwich youngster a booking.

'Jay is a little bit better but he took a bang on the front of his knee. He said when he was trying to climb above Jack he felt something pop but carried on and it seemed to buckle a bit. It's too early to tell but it might be a few weeks for both of them,' said Henman.

Third-placed Dereham travel to Wivenhoe on Saturday.