WHITCHURCH United will looking to open their Wessex League Division One campaign with a victory, when Christchurch are the visitors on Saturday to Longmeadow.

The Jam Boys relegated at the end of the last season from the Premier Division, suffered defeat in their season opener last Saturday, which was in the FA Cup to visiting Laverstock and Ford 3-0.

A young Whitchurch side found life tough against a very physical visiting side and were not helped, by the fact they had Robbie Henderson sent-off with 15 minutes left in the game after he received a second yellow card.

Trailing 2-0 at the break, the Jam Boys came up strongly in the second-half and though they pulled a goal back when captain Luke Neller fired home.

Unfortunately, the goal was disallowed, as another Whitchurch player who had his arms up, was flagged as being in an offside, when he was not interfering with play.

Manager Carl Bennett said: “It was disappointing as we would have been back in the game at that point and in pre-season we have scored goals like this which have stood.”

Looking ahead to the weekend’s first league game, Bennett said: “Christchurch lost to AFC Portchester in the Fa Cup so like us we want to bounce back this weekend.”

On Wednesday night, Whitchurch are at Longmeadow again for another league encounter when AFC Stoneham are the visitors.