WHITCHURCH boss Brian Drury is keen to see his side bounce back after losing 3-1 to visiting Farnborough North End on Tuesday night.

In a goal-less first 45 minutes in Wessex League division one, home striker Ian Davies hit the crossbar and Paul George had a shot cleared off the line.

The deadlock was broken on 70 minutes and 10 minutes later the home side were 3-0 down after George gave away a penalty.

Davies scored a consolation goal but by then the game was lost.

Drury said: "It was probably our worst display of the season and we never played the game at the right tempo."

Amesbury are the visitors to Longmeadow on Saturday, but Whitchurch will be without skipper Oliver Bridges, who broke a couple of toes playing Sunday football, while Pa Touray is a doubt due to a knee injury.

New striker James Cox missed Tuesday's game due to work, but should be available on Saturday.

Last week, Whitchurch were knocked out of the Wessex League Cup, beaten 2-1 by Tadley Calleva at Barlows Park.

The visitors had the better of the early exchanges, with Paul Coventry forcing a save from Darren Maunder. Then Tom Pemberton's cross flew off the boot of Tadley centre-half Dan Oatway on to a post.

It was no surprise when Whitchurch took the lead after 17 minutes. The lively Dauda Fofanah found himself in space outside the box and he drilled in a shot which Maunder did well to push away, but John Rimmer was on hand to bury the rebound.

The home side had their first real chance when Daniel Brownlie's free-kick from the right came back off a post and Tyrone Aldridge just failed to get a touch.

As the half came to a close, Whitchurch debutant James Cox forced Oatway to clear off his line.

The second half was only four minutes old when Tadley drew level as Gary Blenkarn's 20-yard strike hit the roof of the net.

Whitchurch's Rimmer and Cox then combined and Coventry lobbed the goalie - only for the ball to hit the post.

Cox went close from a Zac Reynolds through-ball, while Tadley's Nick Willcock went inches wide from a Dave Livins pass before his side hit the winner.

Livins' shot was pushed away for a corner, which was sent in by Brownlie and Ali Brown headed home the winner on 74 minutes.

In the dying seconds, Cox nearly forced extra time, but a combin-ation of Kevin Stuart and Maunder cleared the ball off the line.

Last Saturday, Tadley made the long league trip to East Cowes Vics and returned with a 1-1 draw.

Manager Paul Hargood, who felt his side had let two points slip away, said: "I thought we would have learned from previous games, but we let them back into it in the last 10 minutes."

The visitors opened the scoring after 25 minutes when Willcock beat the home goalie one-on- one after being put through by Pete White.

Tadley then had the better of the game but were unable to add to their score. There were a few positives to come out of the game, however, as Hargood felt Sean Dalimore had a good game on his debut at left-back.

Lee Chambers, injured in the first pre-season game, played the final 20 minutes.

This weekend, Tadley entertain Hythe and Dibden, who are two places below them in the table.

AFC Aldermaston have the chance to pass last season's points tally when East Cowes Vics make the trip to Berkshire this Saturday.

Last Saturday, Ben Brown, Daryl Philips and Kevin Hill helped their reserve side to a first combination league win of the season, beating visiting table-toppers Totton and Eling 3-1.

The home side took the lead after 17 minutes when good play down the left from Steve Hutton set up Daryl Philips. His shot was saved, but Amandeep Thandi put away the rebound.

Just after the half-hour mark, Hutton was fouled in the box and Philips put away the spot-kick.

Aldermaston's third goal came on 75 minutes when Matty Part-ridge fired home from 30 yards.