FA Cup: Blackfield & Langley FC beat Fareham Town

FA Cup preliminary round
Blackfield & Langley FC 2
Fareham Town FC 1

BLACKFIELD & Langley booked their place in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup with a narrow win over Fareham Town on Saturday.

The Wessex Premier League sides clashed at a windy Gang Warily in front of a 155-strong crowd, with the Watersiders' two goals in as many minutes proving enough.

After the teams traded early yellow cards for late challenges – James Johnson for Blackfield, and Fareham's Arthur Kerton – Fareham came close to opening the scoring as Josh Benfield shot straight at man-of-the-match Connor Maseko.

The Creeksiders ramped up the pressure as Benfield again tested Maseko, but Blackfield took the lead on 37 minutes against the run of play after a long ball down the flank was crossed by Leon Longhurst and headed in at the far post by Alex Sawyer.

The away side immediately mounted another attack, only to see a long clearance pumped past their high back line as Clayd Roach sprinted past the backtracking defenders and slot past Luke Deacon.

Blackfield should have had two more before half-time but Sawyer missed with only the keeper to beat, and Roach saw his shot saved and a near-open goal missed in the follow-up from Harry Edmondson.

Fareham emerged for the second 45 with the wind at their backs and found their way back into the match on 58 minutes as Charlie Cooper whipped over a fine cross from the byline for Calum Benfield to head past Maseko.

Both Maseko and Benfield were then cautioned followed a shoving match in the aftermath.

Fareham found little change from the resolute Blackfield defence as the away side kept possession well for no reward, and the game finished 2-1.

Blackfield will play Western Premier League side Shepton Mallet in the next round on 3rd September

They host Fleetlands in the Hampshire Senior Cup on Wednesday at 7.45pm, and will be hoping to pick up their first premier league win on Saturday at home against AFC Stoneham, 3pm kick-off