WINCHESTER City boss Ian Saunders couldn’t wait to get yesterday's FA Trophy tie against his old club Petersfield Town out of the way.

But, wouldn't you know it, he has got to face them all over again!

Having taken a 21st-minute lead at the Denplan City Ground when Robbie Matthews headed home Stuart Green’s cross, the Citizens were pegged back by a long-range strike from Rams’ skipper Danny Simmonds.

It left it all square, 1-1, meaning Saunders’ emotions will be put through the wringer once more on Tuesday (7.45pm) when he returns to his old Love Lane stamping ground for a preliminary round replay.

Saunders, who left Petersfield in late July to take over from Paul Masters at Winchester, admitted: “It was a disappointing performance by us. We didn’t get going at all and, to be fair, Petersfield put in a good shift and stopped us playing.”

With Saunders’ successor Andy Neal having stepped down, director of football Gary Lines and coach Paul Marsh were running things for the Rams.

“Despite all the doom and gloom, it looked like their players wanted to put a shift in for the gaffer,” said the Winchester boss.

“I don’t see too many dramas ahead for Petersfield if they put in that kind of performance week on week.”

As for Winchester, Saunders said: “We looked a bit leggy.

“Hopefully we’ll go to Love Lane and put in a better performance. I’m looking forward to it.

“We didn’t play well but, luckily, we’re still in the Trophy.”

Although centre-back Ross Bottomley got through an hour yesterday, he is unlikely to feature on Tuesday because of a persistent hamstring problem.

Army man Matt Evans is out of contention for three weeks due to military duty.

Tuesday’s victors will travel to Craig Davis’ Fleet Town on October 29 after the north Hampshire club beat ten-man Bideford 2-1. Player-boss Davis scored the winner from the penalty spot.