WHITCHURCH United manager Jim Macey says that survival is the name of the game as his side prepare for life in the Wessex League Premier Division.

Macey’s men won promotion last season and get their league campaign under way on Tuesday, when they face a trip to Christchurch.

However, they will get a taste of life in the top flight on Saturday, when they host fellow Premier Division side Horndean in the second round of the league cup.

Macey said: “We are looking forward to it and will give it a really good go. The lads can’t wait to get started.

“It’s a league split between those who have money and those that don’t. Our competition is sides like Lymington because the likes of Winchester City are paying plenty of money.

“We are looking to stay in the league. We have worked hard to get here and do not want to go straight back down.”

Macey has lost just one player, striker Sam Argent, over the summer, while he has strengthened his squad with the addition of five new faces.

The Whitchurch boss is especially pleased with the capture of Curtis Angell, who has joined the club from Newbury, and expects the midfielder to have a good season.

Whitchurch warmed up for the start of the season with a 3-1 victory at Met Police on Saturday, Alex Dockree scoring twice and Lee Hamilton getting the third.

However, having agreed to play the game well in advance, Whitchurch were forced to send an under-18 team to play Overton in the final of the Dango Cup at Andover New Street.

“I just want to apologise to the organisers but we did not get the dates for the tournament until we had committed to Met Police,” Macey said. “We sent a very young side because we wanted to fulfil the fixture but I understand their frustration.”