Bashley boss Geoff Butler has mixed feelings about being thrown out of the Russell Cotes Cup.

Much as the New Forest club would have enjoyed the prestige of getting through to the quarter-finals of the charity cup competition, he reckons there are certain advantages in terms of finance and fitness.

Bashley ran out handsome 4-1 winners at Havant & Waterlooville in December, only to discover that the Conference South club had protested to the county FA, stating Bash had fielded an ineligible player.

That protest was upheld at Saturday's meeting of the Hampshire Cups Committee, who ruled that former AFC Totton defender Matt Parnell had not been signed on seven days before the original date of the tie.

Butler shrugged: "It wasn't very neighbourly of Havant & Waterlooville, but I don't think their manager Ian Baird had anything to do with it. When I spoke to him he was highly 'delighted' to be back in it having had one player (Jason Chewins) sent off at the cost of a seven-day suspension against us and two carried off!

"We weren't fined or anything because it was complete ignorance on our part, but I have to admit that if Matt Parnell hadn't been playing we probably wouldn't have won that night."

Had the county's decision gone the other way, Bash would have travelled to Fleet Town tonight in the quarter-final.

Bash are not exactly flush for cash these days and, looking on the bright side, Butler said: "It would have cost us more in travelling expenses than we'd have got back in gate receipts, so there are compensations for being thrown out.

"Another one is that we've got a few injuries at the moment and Andy Culliford, Chris Knowles and Chris Ferrett would all have missed the game. We're home to Cray Wanderers on Saturday and at least we won't get any more injuries."

Havant & Waterlooville, FA Trophy semi-finalists two seasons ago, have drawn a tough tie in the last 32.

Baird's men must travel to Conference South leaders and hot title favourites Grays on February 5 following Saturday's solid 1-0 win at St Albans City.

Tie of the round pits favourites Barnet away to Carlisle United, who sit second behind them in the Conference National.

FA Trophy fifth round (February 5): Gravesend & Northfleet or Eastbourne Borough v Histon, Bishops Stortford v Leyton or Cheshunt, Grays Athletic v Havant & Waterlooville, Kettering Town or Alfreton Town v Woking, Northwich Victoria v Southport or Hucknall Town, Altrincham v Barrow, Aylesbury Utd v Canvey Island, Stamford v Tonbridge Angels or Walton & Hersham, Carlisle Utd v Barnet, Cambridge City v Crawley Town, Vauxhall Motors or Lancaster City v Morecambe, Eastwood Town v Yate Town or Hayes, Slough Town v Thurrock, Accrington Stanley or Hereford Utd v Hytde Utd or Whitby Town, Tamworth v Billericay Town or Exeter City, Burton Albion v Hednesford Town.