JOHN FISHER seems to have left his festive spirit in 2003 after launching a double attack on officials and 'Mickey Mouse' cup competitions.

The Highworth boss takes his side to Harrow Hill tomorrow in the RPM Supplementary Challenge Cup a trophy contested by sides knocked out of the Hellenic League Cup at the first hurdle.

And it is fair to say that the trophy has failed to capture Fisher's imagination.

"It's absolutely pathetic," he said, "a Mickey Mouse competition.

"We've got enough cups as it is but this one is for sides that got knocked out of the League Cup. I'm sorry, but that's something you do in kids' football. It's what happens in under-12 cups.

"When you get knocked out of a competition that should be that.

"It's a disgrace that senior players are expected to play in this and if I could chuck the game I would."

Fisher also launched a tirade at the standard of officials in Highworth's controversial 5-3 defeat at Calne in the Wiltshire Senior Cup on Tuesday.

"The way we were beaten was horrendous," he said.

"No disrespect to Calne, they played well, but it was some of the worst officiating I have ever seen.

"The referee booked eight people and sent two off and there wasn't a bad tackle in the game.

"Calne have equalised in the last minute of normal time when Robbie Lardner has punched the ball in the net.

"Robbie even admitted he had afterwards everyone saw it apart from the referee.

"I just think the standard of the officials is getting worse.

"You work hard all season and it is undone by bad refereeing."

Highworth keeper Sean Purcell was sent off in the midweek defeat after throwing a plastic bottle at a huddle of Calne players before the start of extra-time.

Fisher said: "I'm not condoning what Sean did and the matter is being dealt with internally, but it only happened because he was reacting to a bad decision."

Purcell will be replaced by Elliott Jackson at Harrow Hill, while forwards Adam Giles and Neil Dix are also back in contention.

Elsewhere in the Supplementary Cup, Malmesbury Vics entertain Bicester and Cirencester United travel to Tuffley.

Wootton Bassett are in Premier Division action at home to Pegasus and manager Pete Yeardley hopes his men can recover from their 4-1 Senior Cup loss at Pewsey on Tuesday.

He said: "It was 1-1 after 70 minutes and we were right in it, but we conceded a second and let our heads drop after that. We seem to lack moral fibre.

"Pegasus is a big game and if we don't get something out of it we will find it hard to recover."

Yeardley welcomes back goalkeeper Rich Stevens along with Stuart Bellinger and Mark Vaughan as Bassett bid to move out of the bottom five.

Meanwhile, Fairford entertain resurgent Pewsey at Cinder Lane.

Division One West leaders Purton should extend their three-point lead over Ardley who are in cup action.

Alan Clark's charges entertain Old Woodstock without the suspended Eurshel Fearon and Kenny Hughes.

Clifton Soares and Tom Dingle will deputise.

Shrivenham need to defeat Kidlington at home to stay in contention.

Nathan Holt and Liam Thompson return to the team after illness, but Tom Jones is unavailable due to work commitments.