ONLY a matter of weeks ago Barry Blankley and Fraser Quirke were working side by side as manager and assistant manager of Bashley.

Tomorrow they will be in 'enemy' camps when Blankley's new charges AFC Totton entertain Gosport Borough in the first round of the Hampshire Senior Cup.

The pair remain the best of buddies and Navy man Quirke, now a striker for Gosport, was the first to ring and wish Blankley luck when he took his first game in charge of Totton at Hamble ASSC on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, after taking a first-minute lead through Chris Marwood, the Sydenhams Wessex League table-toppers unexpectedly crashed 5-3 and Blankley smiled: "Good luck message? It was more like the kiss of death. Cheers for that Frase!"

Joking apart, Blankley admitted: "It wasn't the best of nights for us. It was one of those horrible games when we had enough chances to have got a result but didn't put them away.

"Fair play to Hamble, they scored some cracking goals, but the positive side for us was that we kept going right to the end and came back with a couple of late goals.

"There was no big inquest afterwards. It was the first time I'd had all the players together and the last thing I wanted was them feeling sorry for themselves.

"I'm still getting to know the players and I'll have a better idea about them after training."

Ian Shields, who looked after the side when John Robson quit to join Bashley, is going back to running Totton's reserves. Robson's co-assistant manager Gary Birch has been helping Blankley out and Liverpool legend Jimmy Case will provide back-up as and when his Saints radio commitments permit.

Totton will give fitness tests to Stuart Ritchie and Robbie Savage, who both took knocks at Hamble.

l BAT head into tomorrow's tie at Ringwood a much relieved side after stringing together two precious SWL victories.

After six straight defeats, Andy Leader's troops have pulled their season round with wins over Bournemouth and Blackfield & Langley - and, ironically, it is primarily reserve players who have dragged them out of the mire.

The Tobaccomen have been besieged by injury, particularly in the defensive department, where recent signings Dave Marden and Tony Marney have joined Darren Osman, Danny Wilding and John Llewellyn on the wounded list.

Club skipper Paul Masters (ankle) has also been sidelined, along with frontman Paul Beasley (ankle) and Jimmy Ball (ribs).

Add Dean Platt's work commitments to the equation and the fact that former skipper Simon Elliott is due off on his world travels next week and it's small wonder that Leader is so grateful for having a reserve team manager like Danny Bowers at the club.

Bowers, who formerly ran Wimborne Town's reserves, moved to Southern Gardens during the summer and has provided invaluable back-up in the hour of need.

Leader acknowledged: "With all these injuries we've had to rely on the strength of the squad and, thanks to Danny bringing in so many players during the summer, we've effectively turned the corner with a reserve side."

Eighteen-year-old newcomer James Roden has made such an impact at sweeper that he has captained the side for the wins over Bournemouth and Blackfield.

BAT's next transfer target is former Christchurch and Brockenhurst midfielder/forward Luke Gogan who, ironically, plays for tomorrow's Hampshire League opponents Ringwood.