GILLINGHAM TOWN (Hardings Lane)

FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND, GILLINGHAM TOWN 2-0 AFC TOTTON, ATTENDANCE: 144

The next step on the road to Wembley once again took me south as I headed to "the oldest club in Dorset" as Western League Gillingham Town hosted Southern League AFC Totton.

The football club were founded in 1879 and the trip gave me a chance to visit the current set up at their Hardings Lane home. In the very near future the club are due to move off this site to a pitch further down the lane. The timescale is still a bit up in the air but the pitch has been laid and the hard standing is in place, but funds still need be secured to complete the project, so it is unlikely they will moving this season.

The chap I spoke to about the project was keen to point out the it's not a ground move as such but an expansion of the clubs' facilities. The current pitch is the only pitch in the town and once the move happens it will still get used by other teams. 

I liked the set up at Hardings Lane, there is small seated stand on the half way line (which proved a godsend when there was a torrential downpour in the second half) and a pre-fab stand near the top corner of the pitch. The busy social club also served up an Exmoor ale, which was an added bonus, and a sly half of 'Fox' went down a treat.

After scoffing a delicious pasty it was time for the main event as step 5 Gillingham went into battle with step 4 Totton and it was the lower ranked homesters who got off to a fantastic start.

In the second minute a long ball found it's way to Aiden Chainey who lobbed the advancing Steve Mowthorpe to give the home side the lead. The game settled down and both teams played some good football, despite the strong blustery wind blowing across the pitch. Chances were few and far between but Gillingham deserved their interval lead.

I was fully expecting Totton to come out all guns blazing after a half time talking to, but it was Gillingham who attacked from the off and they were rewarded with a second goal after 57 minutes, when Will Agbo fired home.

The Gills had chances to extend their lead, and could have been left to rue those missed opportunities as Totton finally applied some pressure in the closing stages, but Gillingham held on and will now meet Cirencester Town in the 1st Qualifying Round

The AFC Totton dreams are dashed in the downpour.

WINCHESTER CITY (The City Ground)

SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH & WEST, WINCHESTER CITY 1-3 SWINDON SUPERMARINE, ATTENDANCE: 79

Today was one of those days that a hopper dreads as the Great British weather played havoc with ones plans. Not for the first time this season, a planned double header of Darlington versus Bishop Auckland followed by Crook Town bit the dust after a overnight dumping of snow.

After a lengthy consultation between the 4 hoppers in the car it was decided to head to Herne Bay but within minutes this was changed to Soham Town, then Harrow, then Carshalton. Reports came via twitter of snow falling in that there London so we quickly diverted onto the A34 and headed towards Winchester.

When you think of Winchester, you immediately think of the Cathedral. Dig deeper and you find it provided inspiration for the likes of Jane Austin's 'Sense and Sensibilty' and John Yeats' ode 'To Autunm' The city is also on the edge of the downs, which were the setting for Watership Down. With all this running around in your head, you maybe expect a quaint old football ground with classic old stands to reflect what is in your minds eye.

Sadly, The City Ground failed to live up to my, perhaps unrealistic, expectations. The main stand is an "atcost" seated effort and behind the goal there is an "atcost" terrace, which is not very big at all. The ground could also use a bit of TLC. Speaking to another hopper, who went to Winchester when they were on their victorious FA Vase run in 2004, he seemed to recall an old wooden stand down one side of the pitch. Clearly this has now been replaced.

Going back to Watership Down, I could have done with only paying a "Fiver" to enter the ground instead of the £9 I had to pay, which I thought was a little steep for a Step 4 game. On a positive note though the catering was tremendous and, at 50p a chunk, the homemade Bread Pudding was an absolutely delicious bargain!

The game was a routine away win for Supermarine as they comfortably saw off the challenge of the Citizens. Despite taking the lead when a dreadful backpass gifted Pat Nolan a goal after 7 minutes, Winchester were always second best to the visitors from Wiltshire.

Ashley Edenborough equalised after 28 minutes and Josh Parsons put Swindon in the lead after 39 minutes with a neat lob over the 'keeper. This goal did come moments after Winchester had a great shout for a penalty waved away. I was stood level with the incident and it looked a stonewall penalty to me.

Edenborough added his second goal on 70 minutes, when he couldn't really miss after a fantastic cross, to effectively finish the game off. Supermarine substitute Harry Etheridge was shown a straight red card late on, when he retaliated to a late tackle by punching the player as they both lay on the ground.

Winchester have had their problems on and off the field so far this season and from what I seen today I can only predict one outcome at the season's end. The club were the champions of the Wessex League in 2011/12 and, having played at least 6 games more than the teams around them, in 2013 that is where I think they will be returning. I stand to be corrected.

After a couple of dreadful pints of Arkells on the way down to the game (I left most of both) my faith was restored with a visit to the Peyton Arms, with it's legendary landlord 'Mick the Hat' and a decent pint of Old Hooky. An interesting day all round considering we ended up 400 miles from our original destination, that's why there's never a dull moment with this hobby!

Match highlights can be found on this link....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx7dzOng_Gc