HIGHWORTH Town manager John Fisher has hit out at the Hellenic League for putting his Premier Division side against team which plays at the same level as their reserve outfit in the Challenge Cup.

As the Worthians prepare to face Newbury tonight in the league, Fisher was still fuming over the trip to Stokenchurch, a Division Two East side.

Highworth ran out 8-0 winners at the weekend, but the outspoken veteran boss told the Advertiser he felt that they had gone back 30 years.

“When we arrived, their people were standing on chairs putting the nets up,” Fisher claimed. “The changing rooms were so far away from the pitch we had to stay out there for half time and the referee’s changing room was a disabled toilet.

“This is supposed to be the league’s premier cup competition and we have to go to a ground that has facilities that are no better than Sunday morning standard.”

Fisher added that their opponents had tried to pull out of the competition.

“They were embarrassed, we felt sorry for them - it was a waste of a Saturday afternoon,” he said.

“Their manager said that they had contacted the league to try and withdraw from the competition.

“I learnt nothing from the game and they took nothing from it either - it was absolutely pathetic, our reserves play at the same level they do.

“It felt like we had gone back 30 years, I don’t know how that was allowed to happen.”

Fisher will try to put Saturday’s game behind him as he looks to get his side back into the top three.

Highworth’s last league match saw them slip to a 1-0 defeat to Binfield, while Newbury arrive at the Elms five places off the foot of the table.

Meanwhile, Wootton Bassett Town journey to Kidlington looking to bounce back from Saturday 3-2 defeat against Ascot United.

In the Southern League Premier Division, Chippenham Town entertain crest-fallen Hereford United at Hardenhuish Park, while Cirencester Town welcome Dorchester Town to the Corinium Stadium.