PAUL Simpson wants Vics to make winning a habit after his side reached the FA Trophy’s last eight in midweek.

The Northwich boss picks a team for a league encounter for the first time tomorrow, Saturday, buoyed by what he saw in Tuesday’s 4-1 win against Hampton & Richmond Borough.

Their reward is a quarter finals date with Newport County on Saturday week.

“It’s important to carry on now,” he said.

“The lads were desperate to play, so it’s pleasing to have gotten a result.

“I thought the lads were fantastic, and there was lots of good stuff to take away for Alan [Wright] and I to think about.”

He turns his attention to the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division at North Ferriby United this weekend, when Northwich seek to end a three-matches winless stretch.

Victors only once since December 17, they have slipped to fourth in the table.

The gap to leaders Chester, now eight points following their Cheshire neighbours’ 2-0 win against Stafford last weekend, is bigger than at any other moment this term.

But Simpson believes his players can improve upon their performance in his first match at the helm.

“I learned more about the individual players,” he said.

“They tried to play from the first minute on Tuesday, and two great strikes from Nathan Woolfe gave everybody a huge lift.

“There’s ability there, but one or two need to be stronger mentally to carry on doing simple things properly.

“If we do that, then with the attacking players we have we’ll hurt teams.”

Vics triumphed against North Ferriby when the two teams met at the Victoria Stadium in October, Jordan Johnson bagging a brace on his debut in a 2-0 win.

Simpson says any changes he makes will be small.

He added: “I haven’t tried to change a lot.

“There’s no need to, because everybody is comfortable in possession and wants to play football in the right way.

“The mix is a good one; Andy Preece has put a talented squad together.”