BASHLEY skipper Mat Jones faces a fortnight out after an X-ray revealed a hairline crack in his left leg.

He fractured it a month ago when he was caught in a sliding tackle, but it wasn't confirmed until last week when Jones saw ex-Saints physio Don Taylor, who lives just down the road to him in Bishop's Waltham.

The defender/midfielder got through Saturday's big Ryman 1 clash with league leaders AFC Wimbledon but admitted afterwards: "I'm getting to the stage where I can't play on it any more. I need a couple of weeks' rest."

Bash entertain Alton Town tonight in the Hampshire Senior Cup third round, while Ryman rivals Newport IoW face an awesome trip to Conference National outfit Aldershot Town.

Port boss John Linington said: "Aldershot have got an FA Cup game on Saturday, so hopefully they won't play their strongest side. Our lads don't get to play at places like that very often, so I've told them to just enjoy it."

Striker Ashley Wright returns having missing Saturday's 1-0 win over Molesey to go to teammate Justin Hughes's wedding.

l Andy Leader, whose BAT side entertain Portland in the Wessex League tonight, has dismissed Saturday's flare-up with Lymington & New Milton's Jimmy Sheppard as "handbags."

Sheppard was assisting Linnets' boss Ian Robinson on the bench when he allegedly mouthed off at Leader after a heavy tackle on Lymington full-back Pete Smith.

The pair squared up to each other before the referee intervened and sent both men to the stand.

Leader said: "Shepps got in my face, he's a bit of a wind-up merchant, but it was no more than handbags at 11 paces."

Robinson said: "Jimmy's no angel and he and Andy Leader have never seen eye to eye, but I think Jimmy's reputation goes before him. If everyone was sent to the stand for a bit of verbals, the bench would be empty every week!"

Linnets tonight entertain Conference South outfit Basingstoke Town in the Hampshire Senior Cup.

l Andover have appointed coach Adie Burford as caretaker manager in the wake of Brian Le Boutillier's resignation.

Burford, son of former club stalwart Mick, has been guaranteed the job for three months until the position is reviewed at the end of February.

The former midfielder/full-back played 250 games for the Lions in their Southern League days and was coach when Ken Cunningham-Brown twice led them to the Wessex title.

Having kicked off his reign with a 3-1 home win over Hamworthy United on Saturday, Burford aims to keep up the good work at Bemerton tonight.

Managerless Havant & Waterlooville, the area's sole FA Trophy survivors, have been drawn away to either Cray Wanderers or St Alban's City in the third round on January 15.