A DOWNBEAT Steve Edmondson was left deflated by his side’s premature exit from this season’s FA Cup, but has made moves in the transfer market to boost his squad.


Former Parkside Road favourite Craig Dootson has re-signed for the club, with central midfielder Warren Beattie also joining the Kendal ranks, as the Mintcakes aim to arrest a recent downturn in form.


And it was the manner of their latest loss which particularly irked Edmondson, with the club missing out on the fiscal rewards which come with a run in country’s premier knockout competition.


“We’re hugely disappointed after the weekend, not just for ourselves but for the club as a whole because it was the chance to secure the financial boost we need,” he said.


“Unfortunately, the players did not produce what they’re capable of and it was a day of catastrophic errors.


“Chances went begging when it was harder to miss than score and there were goalkeeping errors, so it was the mistakes on the day which cost us dearly.


“We’re down at the moment but we’re going to knuckle down and put things right, I’m just sorry for the supporters who had to witness that performance.”


Experienced campaigner Dootson, the club’s number one for the past two campaigns after signing from Altrincham, returns following a brief spell with Shaun Reid’s Warrington Town.
 

Beattie has also previously worn the black and white shirt, and signs from Northwich Victoria after coming through the ranks at Preston North End and singing professional terms.


The 27-year-old has also played for Fleetwood Town, AFC Fylde, Bamber Bridge and Perth Glory Down Under, with Edmondson confident his new boys will prove shrewd signings.


“Given his pedigree, Craig is a fantastic signing for the club, he shouldn’t have gone in the first place but he did and we were so glad when he said he wanted to come back,” he added.


“Warren has played at this level and higher so hopefully he will bring some experience and steel in areas we need on the pitch.


“It also adds more competition for places and keeps people on their toes. Both are in contention for Saturday.”


The Mintcakes host Wakefield at the weekend before heading down the M6 on Tuesday evening for a showdown with Northwich Victoria, managed by a familiar face – former boss Lee Ashcroft.


Ashcroft left Parkside Road for pastures new last November, leaving his ex-employers one point above the Evo-Stik Premier Division drop-zone and taking a number of the playing staff with him.


But rather than focus on the personalities involved in upcoming fixtures, Edmondson is eager for his players to concentrate on getting their season back on track as quickly as possible.


“We are a team and we need to knit together and bounce back. The players are good enough but we need them to come to the fore,” he said.


“We’re hoping for three points on Saturday against Wakefield but we’ll only achieve this if the players put the hard yards in.


“And Tuesday is another big game for club but no bigger than any other.

We have to put a run together and it doesn’t matter who we are playing against, a former manager or otherwise.


“We need to stop missing chances, stop conceding sloppy goals and start putting points on the board.”