FA CUP fever comes to Longmeadow on Saturday, as Whitchurch United entertain Laverstock and Ford.

Jam Boys manager Carl Bennett has completely rebuilt his side following their relegation from the Wessex League Premier, with only four players remaining Taurean Manders, Craig Rutledge, Will Gange and Corey Cherrett.

Two of them Rutledge and Gange scored in Whitchurch’s 6-2 home win over Cove, the other goals came from Dave Panter with a hat-trick and Josh Chandler.

Panter is one of three young Basingstoke-based to join the squad including centre back Jordan Mooney and number 10 George Smith.

Luke Neller has returned as skipper having played at Blackfield and Langley. Other additions are former Sholing striker Nick Yeomans, former Basingstoke Town man Kieran Maylen and 16-year-old goalkeeper Josh Cotton from Winchester City , who Bennett rates really highly.

Whitchurch boss Bennett said: “We are a very young side and are not going to take anything for granted, but we have a really good dressing room of players who want to be at the club.”

“We played Laverstock twice last season, beat them in the FA Vase and lost in the League Cup, so it is hard to gauge what will happen, but like all teams we would like a nice run in this competition.”

A week on Saturday, the Jam Boys kick-off their league campaign at home to Christchurch.

Looking ahead to this Bennett said: “The chairman has shown his faith in me after we were relegated and now I want to get them back into the Premier. It is not going to be easy, but I have a young hungry side so we will see where it takes us.”