A CHANDLER'S Ford Saints fan who travelled halfway round the world to soak up FA Cup fever in a Southampton pub is now in with a chance of winning tickets to the match.

Joe O'Reilly, from Bodycoat's Road, booked a spur-of-the-moment £500 flight from New Zealand, where he has been living since November, so he could enjoy the final with his mates.

But on his way home from the airport this week, the 24-year-old heard about a Radio One competition to win tickets to the historic clash. He entered, won the semi-final and is heading up to Cardiff to battle it out for two gold-dust tickets to the actual game.

The semi-final prize includes a trip to Cardiff for traveller Joe and nine mates to watch the game in a pub and take part in the competition final - which involves singing a Saints football anthem that they have made up.

Joe had told no one that he was jetting 23,000 miles across the globe to see the crucial game with his old Barton Peveril College friends, and said some of them had a shock when they heard him first on national radio. He and his 21-year-old cousin Chris Lambert - who Joe says he will take to the match with the second ticket - are now keeping their fingers crossed for this morning's musical challenge.