Somerset Premier Cup draw revealed...

It's that moment that all true fans have been waiting for with deep anticipation... yes, the Somerset Premier Cup draw has escaped from county headquarters.

And, somewhat disappointingly, we've got a bye to the second round. Boo!

Here's the draw in full…

First round ties:
Keynsham Town v Chard Town
Radstock Town v Hengrove Athletic
Larkhall Athletic v Wincanton
Brislington v Ashton & Backwell
Taunton Town v Wells City
Shepton Mallet v Bishop Sutton
Paulton Rovers v Yeovil Town
Welton Rovers v Wellington.

Byes: Bath City, Bridgwater Town, Cheddar, Frome Town, Odd Down, Portishead Town, Street, Weston-super-Mare.

Can't they ask eight more teams to enter from a lower league to make it more fun for everyone?

We should be seeded to play every single game away from home.

Second round prediction- a return to the Wellington Arboretum

Hoping for Cheddar away

Roy, what would really make it more fun is to put those 24 teams into 8 groups and have a World Cup style pre season qualifying tournament. The eight winners then enter a ko tournament to be played after Xmas when most are out of cup/trophy/vase. Provides some competitive games before the league starts, avoids those ridiculous fixture pile ups in the Autumn and the Blazers still get their end of season beano. Simples.

I'd like to play any of those in bold away, simply because I haven't been to their grounds:

Keynsham Town v Chard Town
Radstock Town v Hengrove Athletic
Larkhall Athletic v Wincanton
Brislington v Ashton & Backwell
Taunton Town v Wells City
Shepton Mallet v Bishop Sutton
Paulton Rovers v Yeovil Town
Welton Rovers v Wellington.

Plus Portishead. Pretty certain I watched a mate play at Hengrove once. And I played in a 26-1 defeat on Wells' pitch when I was 14.

Playing the competition pre-season? Obviously that'd be a much better idea. It'll never, ever happen though. It'll ruin the tradition of people being stood frozen questioning their sanity through extra-time of some dross game in November.

The only issues I can see with playing it pre-season is that how do deal with the number of substitutions allowed and what players are allowed to play. Do you just have a free-for-all like current pre-season games or limit it to three and registered players?

Ashton & Backwell's a smashing little club, Junior. One of those places where the regulars come up and chat to random new faces. It's also got one of the most humpy bumpy pitches in the area. We were stood between the dugouts, and when the lino was attending to a corner you could only see him. From the knees up!

I'd love us to play down there! Street, Wells City and Hengrove would be on my wish list, too.