JOHN Robson freely admits that Winchester City's next FA Vase assignment is: "a bit of toughie" - but he doesn't view it as mission impossible.

The Hampshire League club, through to the last 32 in their debut Vase season, must travel away to either Newcastle Town or mighty FA Cup minnows Harrogate Railway on January 18.

Newcastle are currently top six in the North West Counties League, while headline-making Harrogate, of the Northern Counties East, took the FA Cup by storm before dipping out 3-1 at home to Nationwide Division 2 outfit Bristol City on Sunday.

Winchester have had a pretty sensational season themselves so far and, after claiming the scalps of Wessex League trio Brockenhurst, Gosport Borough and Lymington & New Milton in various cup competitions, their Sunderland-born boss Robson is looking forward to pitting his wits against some northern grit.

Newcastle host Harrogate in their delayed third round tie this Saturday and Robson said: "Whoever we end up playing, we're going to have to respect them, particularly as we'll be in their neck of the woods, but if we start well and get them on the back foot early on, then we're capable of getting a result.

"When we played Lymington (Russell Cotes Cup) I thought they'd be better than they were, but perhaps that was a measure of how well we played. Gosport gave us a good battle (Hampshire Senior Cup) but I felt we had the edge and then, on Saturday, we were by far the better side against Brockenhurst in the Vase.

"To progress in this competition, we've got to test ourselves against the better teams and, if we come away with something in the next round, then things really will start to look favourable for us."

Of the two Jewson Wessex League survivors, Lymington & New Milton have the advantage of a home draw against North West Counties outfit Mossley, while near-neighbours Christchurch must travel to the winners of tomorrow night's replay between Screwfix Western League duo Bitton and Devizes.

The Linnets, who miraculously came back from four down to beat Willand Rovers 5-4 on Saturday, entertained Mossley at the same stage of competition four seasons ago and emerged narrow 1-0 winners thanks to Andy Sampson's extra-time goal.

Lymington went on to reach the quarter-finals that year, but player-manager Graham Kemp, who set up Sampson's winner, recalled: "I remember Mossley being a very good side. Although we're at home, I'd say Christchurch stand the best chance of all of us against Screwfix opposition. I'd rate our tie as middle of the road and Winchester's is easily the toughest."

Christchurch are not afraid of hitting the road again having flattened Welton Rovers 5-0 in Somerset on Saturday to continue their best ever Vase run.

"We're like Beaujolais , we travel well!" smiled co-boss Nigel Cripps, adding: "It's a great way to keep the season alive still being in a major cup competition going in the new year."

FA Vase fourth round (matches to be played on Saturday, January 18, 2003): Bridlington v Arundel, Brigg Town v Fleetwood, Devizes or Bitton v Christchurch, Durham City v AFC Sudbury, Gorleston v Billingham, Lowestoft v Buckingham Town, Lymington & New Milton v Mossley, Newcastle Town or Harrogate Railway v Winchester City, Maldon Town v Morpeth or Willenhall, Northallerton v Burgess Hill, Oadby or Mickleover Sports v Bideford, Pickering or Causeway v St Blazey, Ware v Clitheroe, Withdean 2000 v Diss, Wootton Blue Cross v Dunston Federation Brewery or Whitley Bay, Wroxham v Prescot Cables.