WINCHESTER City could be thin on the ground for tomorrow's FA Cup preliminary round trip to Ryman Division 1 outfit Corinthian Casuals.

The Vase winners have four players suspended and another handful queueing for the treatment table.

While City have come to terms with losing veteran midfielder Gary Green to a 91-day ban for two sendings-off last season, they are frustrated that three players - Mark Blake, Shaun Dyke and Jamie Musselwhite - are paying an untimely price for five bookings in 2003/4.

All three are sitting out seven days in the sin bin and former Saints and Fulham defender Blake said: "It's a joke. I played 58 games last season and only got booked five times, which I don't think is too excessive for a defender and yet they've hit me with a seven-day ban this season."

Manager Neil Hards agreed: "To get five bookings all last season and be punished for it this season is ludicrous. How that works is beyond me."

Even Sydenhams Wessex League chairman Alf Peckham believes players are waiting too long for suspensions to be enforced.

He said: "People are starting bans in September for offences that might have happened as long ago as Christmas and that affects our clubs in the FA Vase.

"It shouldn't take so long for suspensions to come through."

Potentially City could travel to Tolworth without eight players, depending on the progress of their walking wounded. Skipper Lloyd Webber has painful bruising at the base of his spine and Liam Green pulled a hamstring before Saturday's 4-1 extra preliminary round victory at Lordswood.

Kieron Hall also has hamstring trouble, while goalkeeper Simon Arthur hurt his shoulder on Saturday and couldn't move his arm above his head.

With keepers Ollie Rastall and Darren Crowfoot leaving the City Ground during the summer, former Portsmouth trainee Alex Hards - son of Neil - replaced Arthur for Monday's 3-3 SWL draw at Thatcham.

His dad said: "Alex did okay, but he looked a bit ring-rusty. Hopefully Simon will be back tomorrow."

Although Monday's draw coupled with defeat at Lymington has left City six points adrift of SWL pacemakers Gosport Hards is not displeased with the champions' start.

He said: "It was always going to be transitional from last year and you can't underestimate the strength of the Wessex League these days.

"It's probably the best standard of football at this level of the pyramid and that was shown last year when three sides made the Vase quarter-finals.

"We've got a reputation to live up to this season, which is tough in itself, and we didn't do that against Lymington and Thatcham, but there are no panic stations.

"It's not ideal to be eight points behind Gosport, but we played catch-up for most of last season, so we're used to it. If we don't hit the top again until next April, I'll be happy."

Hards added: "We gave away possession far too easily at Thatcham, but I don't have to go into a rage about it.

"The players are disappointed in themselves and they'll want to put it right."