TEAM Solent’s promotion to the Sydenhams Premier Division is no bar to them defending the Southampton Senior Cup this season.

The Southampton Divisional FA’s (SDFA) premier competition has been boosted by the Sydenhams Wessex League allowing its top-flight teams based within the SDFA boundary to compete.

James Taylor’s Southampton Solent University side, who triumphed 3-2 over Hamble Club in April’s showpiece final at St Mary’s, have been handed a bye to the second round where they will host the winners of the Otterbourne versus Totton & Eling tie.

The 2015/16 competition is being sponsored by TrophyMan. Any companies wishing to get involved with sponsoring any of the SDFA’s other cup competitions, for as little as £250, should contact secretary Mike Harvey on 07936 398902.

SOUTHAMPTON SENIOR CUP (sponsored by TrophyMan) First round (to be played on or before Saturday, September 19): AFC Botley v Sholing Res, AFC Gulf Western v East Boldre, BTC Southampton v BTC Southampton Res, Burridge AFC v Winchester City Res, Bush Hill v Braishfield, Bush Hill Res v Hamble Club Res, Chamberlayne Ath v Comrades, Compton v Colden Common, Durley v Hedge End Town, Hamble Club v Bishopstoke, Hedge End Rangers v Michelmersh & Timsbury, Hedge End Rangers Res v AFC Totton Res, Hythe & Dibden v Cadnam Utd, Nursling v Netley Central Sports, Otterbourne v Totton & Eling, QK Southampton v Locks Heath, Real FC v Park Sports, Southampton Uni v Warsash Wasps, Winchester Castle v Otterbourne Res.

Byes: AFC Stoneham, Bishops Waltham Dynamos, Blackfield & Langley, Brockenhurst, Fawley AFC, Infinity, Lymington Town, Lyndhurst, Romsey Town, Sholing, Team Solent, Upham.

Second round (to be played on or before Saturday, October 17): AFC Stoneham v AFC Gulf Western or East Boldre, Bishops Waltham Dynamos v Southampton Uni or Warsash Wasps, Blackfield & Langley v Winchester Castle or Otterbourne Res, Brockenhurst v Real FC or Park Sports, Burridge AFC or Winchester City Res v Compton or Colden Common, Fawley AFC v Hythe & Dibden or Cadnam Utd, Folland Sports v Bush Hill Res or Hamble Club Res, Hedge End Rangers Res or AFC Totton Res v Durley or Hedge End Town, Infinity v Hamble Club or Bishopstoke, Lymington Town v AFC Botley or Sholing Res, Lyndhurst v Chamberlayne Ath or Comrades, Nursling or Netley CS v Hedge End Rangers or Michelmersh & Timsbury, Romsey Town v BTC Southampton or BTC Southampton Res, Sholing v Bush Hill or Braishfield, Team Solent v Otterbourne or Totton & Eling, Upham v QK Southampton or Locks Heath.

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