WINCHESTER CITY will keep faith with new goalkeeper Alan Walker-Harris for tonight's Wessex League Cup crunch quarter-final tie with table-topping Thatcham Town at the Denplan City Ground.

The ex-Lymington & New Milton stopper has been drafted in as competition for City's 21-year-old FA Vase-winning keeper Simon Arthur who, in manager Neil Hards's opinion, is in need of a rest.

Walker-Harris, who is also on Ryman League forms at Salisbury City, made his debut in City's 5-1 Hampshire Senior Cup win over Stockbridge and has again got the nod tonight.

Although City are still scoring goals a plenty, they have stumbled defensively of late.

Hards, an ex-professional keeper for Plymouth Argyle, said: "One or two goals have gone in that Simon has to hold his hands up to and his confidence has been knocked a bit, I think.

"At this level, he's a very good goalkeeper and an excellent shot-stopper, but he's only 21 and there are things he can still improve on things such as decision making, distribution and command of the six-yard area.

"He hasn't been up to scratch lately and I thought it was wise to give him a rest.

"He's played all the games so far and he's entitled to a break the same as anyone else. But, until now, he's been our only keeper.

"No one's got the right to walk straight into a first-team place and we needed some competition."

Not only have Winches-ter dropped five points to Thatcham in the league this season but they have just been deposed by the Berkshire club at the Wessex summit.

Hards, though, is far from downhearted and said: "It's up to us now to redress the balance.

"We've been doing our best to throw the league away but we're still in there fighting and I know we've got the players to get us back on track.

"The title's still in the melting pot with half a dozen sides involved. That can only be good for the league and good for football."

Graeme Gee, who was cup-tied for the Stock-bridge match, returns to the reckoning for the Wessex League Cup holders tonight, along with striker Ian Mancey, who was ill on Saturday.

Hards will draft in two promising youngsters from the reserves - left-footed player Matt Troon and central defender Jamie Austen.

Josh Thomas and Steve Strong are both cup-tied for Salisbury City's Bryco Cup fourth round trip to Slough Town tonight while skipper Aaron Cook is doubtful with knee trouble. Midfielder Matt Holmes returns from suspension.