Match report: Red-hot Christchurch FC beat Blackfield & Langley FC 5-1 to reignite hopes of a Wessex League Premier One play-off spot
Christchurch dispelled any notion of a loss of form with a resounding demolition of neighbours Blackfield & Langley away from home on Saturday.
Christchurch had been in astonishing form before losing to league leaders AFC Portchester last weekend. They scored 29 goals in seven games, winning six, and were at their imperious best against Blackfield & Langley.
Christchurch exploded out of the blocks, with Jake Dove giving his side the lead four minutes in before Joe Freak, Luke Sheehy, and Dan Neild made it 4-0. Nandom Yamba pulled one back, but Fin Richardson ensured the victors had the final say.
The opening goal came off the back of some delightful build-up play, with Dove firing past James Harwood after a neat one-two created the space to shoot.
It was not all one-way traffic, with Blackfield managing to create some half-chances. However, the next goal did not go their way, as an unmarked Freak had to fire home after a cut-back.
The final goal of the half left the Blackfield bench seething after what they felt was a clear foul in the build-up, but that mattered little to Sheehy, who slotted the ball past Harwood.
Moments before the end of the half, Harwood produced a stunning save to stop the visitors from grabbing a fourth, repelling a fierce effort from the pacey Addwell Chipangura.
Blackfield were much better after the break, with the contest fought mainly in the middle of the pitch. However, with 70 minutes on the clock, the referee pointed to the spot, and Neild seemingly nervelessly fired home.
Yamba was the host’s best threat, and moments after beating two players and shooting just wide, he pulled one back with an excellent finish after cutting in and leaving his marker for dead.
Rather than serving as a consolation, the goal reignited the Christchurch players, with Richardson blasting a long-range effort into the bottom corner to rubber-stamp a dominant afternoon’s work.
The win leaves Christchurch 10 points off the play-off places. Blackfield lost ground in the fight for survival and is now two points adrift.
Christchurch will enjoy a well-earned break. Their next match is next Saturday when they host Fareham Town. Meanwhile, Blackfield & Langley have a difficult task against league leaders AFC Portchester on Saturday.
Blackfield & Langley: J. Harwood, T. Nguyen, D. Nguyen, G. Matonga, J. Rose, S. Comley, A. Sesay, J. Mann, N. Yamba, T. Crook, D. Roocroft. Subs: B. Hill, L. Renyard, H. Mubiru, O. Brown, J. Roberts.
Christchurch: B. Rodwell, J. Dove, L. Freak, R. Watkins, J. Fu, J. Hall, L. Sheehy, D. Neild, J. Freak, A. Chipangura, F. Richardson. Subs: T. Fu, L. Whetton, C. Hockton, A. Younger, N. Meddah.
