Lymington & New Milton boss Ian Robinson views tonight's Sydenhams Wessex League trip to Christchurch as a major test of his side's character after Saturday's controversial FA Vase exit at Bury Town.

There was a subdued atmosphere on the coach home from Suffolk after a poor pitch and some even poorer refereeing decisions had conspired to send the Linnets crashing to a 3-2 extra-time defeat.

Now Robinson can only pray that his team respond better than Wessex title rivals Winchester City whose results have dipped badly since last month's Vase nightmare at Bridgwater.

"The atmosphere among the players did improve as we got closer to home on Saturday, but it was a big kick in the teeth to go out in extra-time," said Robinson.

"Winchester haven't done well since they were knocked out of the Vase and it's going to be a real test of character now to see how we respond.

"We've got two major games coming up at Christchurch tonight and Bournemouth away on Saturday and neither of them is going to be easy.

"Somehow we've got to pick up this group of players, but I'm not sure how. Paul Towler (Linnets defender) doesn't get involved too much and has a high degree of discipline, but even he said Saturday's match was horrible to play in.

"I've never seen him so emotional about a game. Bury were kicking, elbowing and throwing themselves to the ground and Chris Smith was headbutted, but the three blind mice didn't see a thing!

"The Vase is a lottery and I take my hat off to Neil Hards for winning it with Winchester last year. You've got to be a really good side to cope with the different scenarios it throws up.

"We lost in the 116th minute at Bury and I'm convinced that if we'd held out for those last four minutes, we'd have beaten them down here."

Frontrunner Paddy James, who has been out for seven weeks with ankle problems, is expected back on the Lymington bench tonight.

l Robinson knows all about the task facing the Wessex League's sole Vase survivors AFC Newbury in the quarter-finals on March 5.

Guy Whittingham's men have been drawn away to Northern Division 1 outfit Bedlington Terriers - scene of AFC Totton's 5-0 elimination of 1999/2000 when Robinson was manager there.

FA Vase quarter-final draw: Jarrow Roofing Boldon CA or Tipton Town v Frome Town, Bedlington Terriers v AFC Newbury, AFC Sudbury v Stourbridge, Didcot Town v Bury Town.