WELL, a very sound performance from the lads on Saturday. Yate were a very physical side, who put themselves around for the first 20 minutes

However, we weathered the storm and deserved to win the game. In the last 64 of the competition we have been drawn away to Barking, from East London. Barking are four points clear in the Ryman League Second Division and I went to watch them on Tuesday night along with my vice-chairman Les Weir and scout Peter Farrell.

We set off at 4:45pm from Chippenham and Les decided to go straight through the centre of London. We got stuck in horrendous traffic and arrived five minutes before half-time. However, when we got there it was 0-0 and we saw plenty of Barking to show us what a strong side they are. We finally got back to Chippenham at 12.30pm and I hit my bed back in Bath at 1.10pm, absolutely shattered. Cheers for taking me anyway Les, I do appreciate it, even if we got there late.

Tomorrow we are home to vastly improving Dawlish Town. Dawlish had a very slow start to the season, but have won their last four games. We need three points to maintain our place in the top three, as Backwell and Paulton are also consistently winning. We welcome back Lee Burns this week and with only John Woods, Kenny Hughes and Nick Beaverstock on the long-term injury list things are slowly improving.

I had a lovely letter from former Deal Town manager Tommy Sampson on Saturday before our FA Vase match. He wished us all the best and hopes that we can win it this year. It was a great touch from a smashing bloke.

Charlie Griffin scored again for Woking albeit this time from the penalty spot. I see Swindon have placed seven players on the transfer list and that the new manager is determined to put his foot down. Fair play to him I say, some professional footballers have it too easy and the way Swindon have been on the slide in recent years this is long overdue.