WINCHESTER City’s management team are bound to feel sentimental when they face the second instalment of this week’s knockout trilogy away to Alresford Town tonight in the North Hants Senior Cup.

For Tim Cole and Danny Robinson it will be their first trip back to their old stamping ground since leaving for Winchester during the summer.

During their last three seasons at Alresford, the dynamic duo masterminded seven cup triumphs, kicking off with the North Hants trophy in 2012.

So it’s no surprise that cup exploits are already featuring high on their Winchester CV with tonight’s tie following hot on the heels of Saturday’s 8-0 FA Vase thumping of Laverstock & Ford.

City have also distinguished themselves as the Sydenhams League’s sole survivors in the FA Cup and will travel to Conference South outfit Concord Rangers this Saturday in the third qualifying round.

With the Concord trip in mind, Cole and Robinson will rest many first-team regulars tonight, but they still intend giving their old club a game.

Liam Green, Adam Roberts, Geoff Dunn, Ben Stanbrook and Ross Casey will all get run-outs, along with Callum Casson and John Borg.

“I like the North Hants Cup. It was the first one Danny and I won at Alresford and I always think that if you win one cup others seem to follow,” said Cole. We had some good times at Alresford and some great success.

“There are a lot of good people there who it’ll be nice to see again.

“I like Staggy (Jeremy Stagg) and Martin Beck, the managers, and they’ve got a lot of good lads who’ve deservedly come through from the reserves.”

Warren Bentley notched a hat-trick inside half-hour as Winchester strolled to Vase victory over Laverstock.

With Zach Glasspool also on the scoresheet, City were four up at the break.

Glasspool got the fifth, leaving Mike McEnery and substitutes Roberts and Dunn to polish off victory.

Winchester – Vase winners in 2004 – have landed a home draw in the first round proper on Saturday, November 1.

They will host the victors of tonight’s all-Wessex replay between Lymington Town and Horndean who drew 1-1 after extra time at Five Heads Park.

Jack Odam gave the Linnets a first-half lead, snuffed out by Nathan Paxton with around 15 minutes of normal time to go.

“It was a fair result,” said Lymington boss John Pyatt. “We’re struggling for numbers and had three reserves with us on Saturday.”

Things are not looking much better for tonight. Dave Marden (Achilles) and Ed Stacey (toe) are injured as is Carlo Tate, James Davis is on holiday and dual-signed pair Tony Lee and Harrison Weeks are with their parent club Eastleigh. On the plus side, Warren Kenna could return from calf problems.

Asked about a possible trip to Winchester, Pyatt said: “We’ve got to win tonight’s game first, but I’d prefer not to have drawn them.

“I don’t like drawing anyone from our league, particularly when they’re one of the best sides in it.”