Hampton & Richmond Borough boss Alan Devonshire says he has every faith reserve team keeper Adam Carpenter can solve his goalkeeping injury crisis.

Youngster Joe Talbot is set to sit out Saturday’s clash with Havant & Waterlooville after pulling his thigh muscle in the warm-up for Monday’s 2-2 draw at Dorchester Town.

It follows news first choice Matt Lovett will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to cure knee ligament trouble.

But the Beveree chief reckons Carpenter is up to the job.

“Joe got a little tear in his thigh muscle so it meant Dean Wells had to take the goal kicks from the start,” he said.

“It is a blow because he has been playing well for me, but we’ve got a couple of people signed up and we’ll see what happens.

“Adam played in the 1-0 win over Enfield in the Middlesex Cup and saved a penalty, so he is more than capable of stepping in.”

Striker Charlie Moone’s brace salvaged a draw at the weekend after Steve Devlin had given the hosts a 2-1 lead.

But Devonshire felt it could have been more after a controversial Nick Crittenden penalty had levelled Moone’s 56th minute opener.

“The lad dived for it and their manager has even come out and said that,” he added.

“We were cruising at 1-0 and probably would have gone on to win the game, but that changed things.”

Hampton, who drew 0-0 with Staines Town on New Year’s Day, face a hectic January schedule having only played one league game in December.

And Devonshire has urged league officials to rethink the fixture list for next season.

“We played eight games in August and then one a week in September and October,” he said.

“We should continue playing more games when the weather is good, so that when there is bad weather in December you only lose one or two games.

“It needs to be looked at.”

And as for the immediate future.

“Our target is 40 points. We’ve got 21 from 18 games so we’ve just got to keep things ticking over and get there as soon as we can,” said Devonshire.

“Havant & Waterlooville and Ebbsfleet are going to be tough because they are chasing the play-offs.”

Hampton’s next three games: Jan 8 Havant & Waterlooville (a), 11 Ebbsfleet United (a), 15 Gateshead/Southport (FAT, a).