IT'S appropriate that Birmingham City once had a fanzine devoted to them called Tired and Weary.

For that's exactly what Winchester City are ahead of their FA Vase final at St Andrews in just over a month's time.

Faced with a fixture list that Arsene Wenger would surely have words to say about, City are still chiselling out the results.

On Saturday a second half equaliser from top-scorer Andy Forbes gave Winchester a 1-1 draw against visiting Totton.

With second-placed Wimborne winning, the Cuthbury club joined City on 96 points at the top - but Winchester have two games in hand.

And, if they can beat Hamble today and Wimborne next Saturday, the title will be theirs - just 12 months after they won the Hampshire League in a canter.

"We are looking tired," said City director of football David Malone.

"The professionals would just not put up with the fixture list we've had.

"It's ludicrous to expect players who aren't even part-time to play Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Monday - yet that's what we've had to do.

"But we've got a big squad and it gives people who wouldn't normally play a chance.

"It would be nice to get the league out of the way so that we can rest players with the Vase in mind.

"If we win the Vase it would be a great boost for Wessex League football, but the Wessex League have done nothing to help us.

"It's ridiculous that we have to finish our season by April 24."

Totton deservedly led at half-time through a Chris Marwood strike, yet played most of the second half with ten men after Stuart Salter was sent off.

Asked why he had been dismissed, Totton boss Barry Blankley said: "I don't know, the referee wouldn't talk to anyone afterwards.

"I know Stuart swore at him but I've been told that people heard the ref swearing at Stuart. It's a shame that the referee thought he was more important than the two teams.

"He detracted from a good match. If it had stayed 11 against 11, I'm sure there would have been a lot more action at both ends."

Malone added: "We didn't play at all well in the first half but (manager) Neil Hards ripped into the players at half-time and we looked a lot more determined side in the second half."