WHEN you've got an empty points account two games into the new season, the last team you want to face are FA Vase winners and league/cup holders Winchester City.

But that's the ominous prospect facing off-colour Lymington & New Milton at Fawcetts Field tonight, as they look to rediscover the form that placed them fourth in the Sydenhams Wessex League last year.

Having lost their opening game 3-1 at AFC Newbury, things went from bad to worse for the Linnets on Saturday when they stumbled to a shock 3-0 home defeat against a buoyant Bemerton Heath Harlequins outfit co-managed by their former coach John Sainty.

Manager Ian Robinson, pictured, admits he is at a loss to know what has gone wrong, particularly as the summer's vibes were so good. He said: "We had a great pre-season and I felt more confident than ever about the team. But we've failed to deliver and I don't know why."

The departure of former AFC Bournemouth star John Bailey to Lymington Town has left a sizeable void in midfield and Robinson conceded: "He's certainly a big loss. We're also without Chris Smith, who damaged his ankle ligaments in pre-season, so the engine room isn't there at the moment. Maybe that's making excuses, I don't know, but those two had worked up a good understanding in central midfield."

Despite Linnets' poor start, Robinson insists he is not dreading tonight's game. Although Winchester have kicked off the defence of their title with nine out of nine points, Lymington beat them on their home soil on the final day of last season.

Robinson said: "I'm more concerned with us than Winchester City tonight. We're one of the few sides to have beaten them on their own patch in recent seasons, so we know what we're capable of. All I want is a win."

Leggy frontrunner Darren Crook has completed his transfer from Bemerton and will be included in tonight's squad.

Having spent most of last season chasing long-time league leaders Wimborne Town, Winchesterare determined to keep setting the early-season pace.

Coach Steve Moss said: "We set ourselves goals in the dressing room and one of them is to be top of the league before we go into the FA Cup. Last season we were always playing catch-up to Wimborne and that made life really difficult."

l SWL officials are confident Andover's pitch will be playable again in time for their next home match against AFC Newbury on August 31.

The Lions had their fixture against Bournemouth reversed last Saturday because contractors made the fertiliser mix too strong during the summer and killed off the grass seed on half the pitch. Chairman Alf Peckham said: "You can't blame Andover for what's happened, so we've said we'll give them a couple of weeks. The grass is already starting to grow."