WINCHESTER City have given themselves a timely confidence boost ahead of Tuesday's (7.45pm) Hampshire FA Senior Cup semi-final at higher league Basingstoke Town.

On Saturday they held their own against a Taunton Town side who City boss Ian Saunders firmly believes are destined to join Basingstoke in the Southern Premier Division next season.

Had it not been for an uncharacteristic late miss by their normally lethal 33-goal top gun Craig Feeney, Winchester could well have snaffled all three Southern One South & West points.

But given that Taunton rolled up in Hampshire on the crest of a seven-match unbeaten run, a 1-1 draw was not be sneezed at for the ninth-placed Citizens.

Winchester took the lead with a sublime 35th-minute strike from Feeney but surrendered it rather to easily early in the second half when Craig Veal’s seemingly harmless ball into the box deceived everyone on its way into the bottom corner.

With ten minutes to go, Feeney had the chance of a second but, confronted by Taunton keeper Lloyd Irish, his shot cleared the bar from a couple of yards out.

Saunders had mixed emotions afterwards, but took great pride in matching one of the division’s toughest opponents.

“It’s a good result against a team that I think will go up with (league leaders) Hereford and we should be pleased with a point against arguably the most complete side in the league,” he said.

“Taunton play a bit of football, they ask questions of you by putting the ball in good areas, they’re committed, they’ve got a bit of everything, so I’m absolutely over the moon that we’ve competed with them.

“On the other hand, I was disappointed with the nature of the goal we conceded. It was probably the poorest chance they had. It was blood and thunder out there at times today, which is what you expect at this level, and we stood up to that, but the goal they scored was a soft one.

“Feeney’s then had a decent chance towards the end, which you’d expect him to put away - but take nothing away from Craig, he scored a very good goal.

“Another day we could have been enjoying three points against a real good side.”

Winchester will be in for another stern test on Tuesday against a Basingstoke outfit stationed 12th in the Southern Premier.

Defender Olly Searle and midfielder Jamie Barron are both cup-tied, Robbie Matthews is unavailable and Adam Tomasso faces another two to three weeks out injured.

Winchester were beaten HSC finalists against Havant & Waterlooville at St Mary’s last spring and would dearly love to have another stab at lifting the silverware.

Saunders, though, knows Terry Brown’s Basingstoke pose a formidable threat to their ambitions.

“That’s a tough game,” he said. “They’re a league up from us, they’re mostly full-time and we’re away from home.

“But it’s a decent pitch up there and we’re looking forward to a real good test. We want to get to the final if we can.”

Tuesday’s other semi-final pits runaway Combined Counties League leaders Hartley Wintney against AFC Bournemouth’s development squad.

Winchester City: Lewis Noice, Olly Searle (Taz Roberts, 64), Jamie Ford, Jamie Barron, Lewis Hyde, Danny Smith, Joe Briggs (IK Hill, 85), Stuart Green, Craig Feeney, Howard Neighbour, Andy Jenkinson (Nick Watts, 80). Subs (not used): Jack Hannam, Sam Wilson.

Referee: Matt Russell.

Attendance: 186