WINCHESTER’S two main football clubs, City and Castle, go head-to-head tonight in the North Hampshire Cup in what promises to be a tasty derby at the Denplan City Ground.

The game, being dubbed ‘El Winchico’ – a play on ‘El Clasico’, the name for the derby between Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid – has got the Castle players buzzing according to co-boss Stewart Beck.

Castle are very much the underdogs for this one as they play three tiers below Sydenhams Premier City in the Puma Engineering Hampshire Premier League.

But it won’t take anything away from the occasion for Beck. “We’re looking forward to tomorrow night’s game,” he said. “We’re not expecting anything, as we are the underdogs, but anything can happen in a cup game.

“All the lads are buzzing to play,” he added.

“It definitely will have the derby feel about the game.

“They will mostly be reserves with three or four first teamers needing minutes so will be a very difficult game.

“I’ve seen Winchester City’s reserves play and they have some great talent.

“We are still struggling with injuries but slowly getting there.

“We will hopefully make this a good competitive game to watch and hopefully get something.”