Bang went our Amateur Cup hopes for 1964 when we were beaten by the only goal in the dying seconds of the first round tie at Fareham, near Portsmouth.

John Swannell, who played an excellent game, did not know anything about the goal that beat him. He was knocked out cold by Fareham's gigantic centre forward, Roy Hiron, who headed in a cross from right-winger Les Fitzjohn, just when the stage looked set for a replay.

I know it is not very nice to cry over the proverbial spilt milk, but there were a couple of baffling decisions by the referee. He disallowed first half efforts by both sides - after consulting a linesman. One looked a perfect beauty by David Hyde, who was astounded in the second-half when he was not awarded a penalty. SO were a few hundred other people.

Fareham must have been one of the most under-rated sides of the competition. Even the Hampshire people did not give their team much of a chance. There was talk that Hendon would win by several clear goals, but Fareham rose magnificently to the occasion and their forwards displayed some excellent football.

We offer them our congratulations and hope they will do well in future rounds. They are certainly capable of dishing out the shocks.

Coach Ron Burgess was naturally disappointed with the result. The forward line, he said, did not live up to expectations.

"They did not move well off the ball and they did not take advantage of several opportunities created. On the whole the forwards did not live up to their expectations," added Ron, who readily complimented Fareham on fighting so well. "But on paper, we should have beaten them."