WINCHESTER City director of football Dave Malone believes Saturday's FA Trophy first qualifying round tie at Fleet Town could be pivotal for the rest of the season.

The Citizens are licking their wounds after three defeats in the space of nine depressing days dropped them to 18th in the Southern One South & West.

And should their Trophy hopes go up in smoke at Calthorpe Park, Malone fears it could be a painfully long campaign.

“If we’re not careful , it’s just going to fizzle out,” he warned.

“If we don’t progress in the Trophy, by Christmas we could have a season full of nothing ahead of us - and no one wants that.”

Given their a last-minute change of manager at the end of July when Ian Saunders replaced Paul Masters, City had expected some early teething problems.

But having seemingly found their feet following a morale-boosting 4-0 FA Cup romp over Truro in mid-September, losing three on the bounce has come as an unwelcome surprise.

“At Taunton last Saturday we were completely outplayed by a far better side – they’re the best we’ve played and they’d be my tip to finish second to Hereford,” said Malone.

“But the other two games, at Shortwood and at home to Bishops Cleeve last night, we could have won if we’d taken half our chances. The lads just seem to lack confidence really.

“Losing Browner (skipper Jamie Brown) to injury has made a big difference. Without him we don’t seem to get the right balance.”

Constant changes to the starting line-up haven’t helped City's cause – and it’s not going to get better any time soon.

Towering centre-back Ross Bottomley is taking a break from football and frontman Howard Neighbour and winger Joe Briggs are away on a two-week holiday.

“We haven't put the same side out two games in a row,” Malone lamented.

“I’ve never known a season like it for players being unavailable and I find it very hard to accept the lack of priority.

“Players don’t seem to take it as seriously at this level any more.

“When I’ve been part of successful sides, we’ve always had continuity.”

Explaining Bottomley's decision to take a break, Malone added: "He's got a family and can work on a Saturday and earn more than we pay him."

Trophy hosts Fleet, managed by ex-AFC Totton midfielder Craig Davis, are 16th in the Southern One Central.