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."
Moneyfields, 1-0 victors over Paulton Rovers, have landed another home draw against Norfolk outfit Gorleston, while Bournemouth Poppies and Christchurch are on a collison course at Victoria Park if they get through tomorow's delayed second round ties.
Seventh-placed Bashley need another victory at Fleet Town tonight to stay in touch with the Eastern Division pacemakers, but manager Barry Blankley has warned that the second-to-bottom North Hampshire club will be no pushovers.
Fleet ground out a 0-0 draw at Stamford on Saturday and Blankley said: "Knowing Adie Aymes and Mark Dennis (joint managers) as I do, they will have Fleet well wound up tonight and they're scrapping for every point.
"But it's a game we need to win because everyone above us picked up points on Saturday." Bash name an unchanged squad.
Guy Whittingham could get a place in Newport's starting line-up against Dorchester at St George's Park tonight as top visits bottom in DML Eastern Division.
The former Portsmouth goal-getter made his comeback from a knee operation as a substitute against Rothwell on Saturday and player-manager Steve Tate said: "I'd have no hesitation starting Guy tonight. He's looked after himself well."
Midfielder/defender Danny Rofe faces a late fitness test on a calf pull, but player-coach Steve Riley is unavailable.
Salisbury City take a break from league action to visit Erith & Belvedere in their delayed FA Umbro Trophy first round replay. The winners travel to Kingstonian on November 30.
FA VASE DRAW:
FA Vase third round draw (December 7): Prescot Cables v Flixton, Rugby Town v Bridlington Town, Thornaby or Fleetwood Town v Abbey Hey, Grosvenor Park v Billingham Town, Pickering Town v Causeway United, Dunston Federation Brewery v Whitley Bay, Oadby Town v Mickleover Sports, Clitheroe v Studley, Morpeth Town v Willenhall Town, Brigg Town v Rushall Olympic, Sheffield or Guisborough Town v Mossley, Northallerton Town v Shirebrook Town, Durham City v Gedling Town, Newcastle Town v Harrogate Railway, AFC Sudbury v Hanwell Town, Buckingham Town v Ash United, Moneyfields v Gorleston, Yaxley v Wroxham, Sandhurst Town or Dorking v Ware, Wisbech Town or Holbeach Utd v Burgess Hill Town, London Colney or Milton Keynes City v Diss Town, Wootton Blue Cross v Thamesmead Town, Ford Sports Daventry v Withdean 2000 or St Margaretsbury, Maldon Town v Selsey, Lowestoft Town v Norwich United or Stotfold, Whitehawk v Arundel, St Blazey v AFC Totton, Welton Rovers or Bournemouth v Christchurch or Torrington, Devizes Town v Bitton, Willand Rovers v Lymington & New Milton, Bideford v Porthleven, Brockenhurst v Winchester City.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article