Rick Andrews believes he will see a positive reaction from his Stowmarket Town players when they travel to FC Clacton today (3pm), writes Alex Moss.

The Old Gold and Blacks suffered their first defeat of the new season last weekend, as a Brian Moses brace earned higher-league Basildon United a 2-0 win in the Emirates FA Cup extra preliminary round at Greens Meadow.

Stow return to action in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division tomorrow afternoon, and boss Andrews hopes his side can bounce back from their FA Cup disappointment and continue their winning start to their league campaign.

“I think the players have got enough experience about them to bounce back,” Andrews said. “We do genuinely believe in the squad, but they have to learn what our expectations are and what our standards are.

“Right at the beginning of the season we said there are going to be games that don’t go our way, the opposition might be better or we might not be at it.

“But if you’re going to be a winner, you have a problem and you come up with a solution.

“If you’re a loser, then you come up with every excuse you can think of. We’ve got to work on solutions and the sooner we do the better.”

Stow are one of five teams to have started the new Premier Division season with back-to-back wins, along with Godmanchester Rovers, Brantham Athletic, Histon and Ely City.

Early front-runners Godmanchester are due to host Histon tonight, while Brantham and Ely face trips tomorrow to Newmarket Town and Long Melford respectively.

Stow were missing several players for last Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Basildon, but will be boosted by the returns of Scott Chaplin, Ollie Canfer and David Kempson for today’s visit to Rush Green Bowl.

Summer signing Tom Matthews could make his competitive debut for Andrews’ side tomorrow, having served a three-match suspension which carried over to the new season from his old club Wroxham.

Luke Read (holiday) misses the next three games, while Craig Brand, Angelo Harrop and Leon Ottley-Gooch are all out with injuries.