AFC Totton have landed what Ian Robinson rates "the worst possible draw" in the FA Vase third round.
Having kept his fingers tightly crossed for a home tie, the gods have conspired against the Testwood Park manager who must lead his side all the way to Cornwall to face St Blazey on December 7.
"I've just looked on the map and it must be at least 200 miles away," he groaned.
To add insult to injury, St Blazey are riding high at the top of the Carlsberg South Western League having won ten and drawn of their 11 games, scoring 43 goals and conceding only four.
"They're absolutely flying by the looks of things," said Robinson. "I keep thinking of the long coach journey, how much it's going to cost - and it's too far away to send a scout down to watch them. It couldn't be any worse."
Totton's unbeaten Jewson Wessex League record will be put to the test at Gosport Borough tonight. Defender Danny Barker returns having been cup-tied for Saturday's 2-0 Vase win over Andover, but midfielder Ollie Shaw is away at university.
Lymington & New Milton, who take an unchanged squad to Blackfield & Langley in the JWL tonight, have also got a West Country trek in the Vase.
Graham Kemp's heroes, 3-2 extra-time winners at Team Bath on Saturday, must go to Willand Rovers, who lie mid-table in the Screwfix Western Division 1.
Given that near-neighbours Christchurch have already turned the Devonshire side over 3-0 in the FA Cup this season, victory should be well within the Linnets' grasp.
Kemp admitted: "If we'd been at home, it would have been the ideal draw because there were a lot tougher teams we could have drawn in our section.
"What worries me is what their pitch might be like. The lower down the tree you go, sometimes the facilities are not as good."
Winchester City's third round Vase trip to Brockenhurst will prove just how far the Hampshire Leaguers have come this season, according to manager John Robson.
"We're happy with that draw," he said. "It'll be good for the lads to test themselves against a team from a higher league.
"There will be a little bit of fear for the players to overcome because the lads all know about Brockenhurst being a Wessex League side. This is a different sort of test for them.
"I haven't had the chance to go there in the last couple of years, but I will do.
"It's nice not to have to go too far to have a look at the opposition."
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