Four months ago, our first away game was against The Citizens when they were playing their home games at Basingstoke’s Winklebury Complex while their new 3G pitch was being installed. That evening we were 2-0 down after 45 minutes but turned the game on its head to be 3-2 ahead just before the hour mark, and ran out 4-2 winners. Cam Munn scored a hat-trick, with Billy Walker bagging the other.

Apart from a 3-0 win at Tiverton in the FA Cup, that was to be our only victory on the road so far this season. However, Tim Sills’ team’s home league form has been much better: W5 D2 L2, the most recent results being a 3-0 win over Taunton, and a 1-1 draw with Dorchester. Overall our record is W6 D3 L9 GF 20 GA 30, which leaves us 16th in the table after 18 games.

Winchester’s form is the other way round. They’ve only won once at home, partly because they played early fixtures at Winklebury, but have a decent W3 D3 L3 away record, leaving them 18th with a W4 D7 L8 GF 24 GA 33 record. They are undefeated in their last three away games: drawing 1-1 at Hanwell, who equalised in the 94th minute; then winning 1-0 at Frome followed by the same score at Sholing. Ik Hill is a striker in form – he’s scored 4 of Winchester’s last 5 goals, including the winners at Frome and Sholing, and bagged a brace in their 4-2 defeat at home to Basingstoke on Tuesday.

Some familiar names among Craig Davis’s Winchester squad include goalkeeper Luke Cairney whom has two penalties to his name this season, defenders Kieran Douglas and Mark Jamison, midfielders Dan Bartlett and Ollie Griggs, and strikers Olly Balmer and Tommy Wright.

For Wimborne, Ross Flitney and Jez Bedford returned for Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Basingstoke, while recent re-signing Toby Holmes came off the bench along with Jack Lovell to join Will Fletcher as a formidable threesome. With four games in twelve days coming up, Tim will be working out how to keep his players fresh.

With apologies to music lovers, your match previewer has come across a couple of Christmas songs which may be helpful. Firstly for Tim: “It’ll be lonely this Christmas, with just one up front.” And then for the players: “Last Christmas you gave us six points but this year we’re hoping for something better”.

The previous three times The Citizens have come calling there’s been goals galore: 5-6, 2-2, and 3-0. And, of course, there was six goals at Winklebury back in August. Could it be another goal fest? Or will Winchester’s defence continue their miserly recent form of just conceding a single goal in their last three away games? And who will the referee decide has been naughty and who has been nice as he gives out his last cards before Christmas Day. Well, you won’t want to miss this one. Leave that last-minute present buying until the real last-minute, wrap up warm, and come on down to the Wyatt Homes Stadium to find out. After all, it’s what Saturday afternoons were made for!

There’s plenty of parking at the ground in Ainsley Road BH21 2FU, but if you do decide to park on the nearby streets, please do so respectfully to our neighbours.

The Morebus no.13 runs along Leigh Road from and to The Square in the town centre with stops at the bottom of Parmiter Road.

There is a bike park to the left of the players’ entrance.

Admission: adults £14, concessions £8, U18s £5, U13s £2.

Average att: 630

A packed, printed programme will be on sale. It’s a double-header for both the Winchester (21st) and Gloucester (28th) matches.

Weather forecast: partly cloudy; 12oC; 40% chance of rain.