Wessex League football: Blackfield & Langley hit four past Pagham

Wessex Premier
Pagham FC 1
Blackfield & Langley FC 4

A GRUELLING match which seemed to be heading towards a goalless end suddenly sparked into life in the last 20 minutes, with five goals, three sin-bins and a red card.

It ended a happy day's work for the new management team of Craig Stanley, Carl Bennett and the returning Steve Blackburn, with the goals coming from Rich Bakary, Harry Edmondson, Zak Pickett, and Charlie Rattley.

The two sides took turns to fashion chances, with the hosts' effort flying over the bar and Sam Woodward having a shot cleared off the line after rounding the keeper as the half ended 0-0.

Keeper Nico Trojanowski produced a decent save at the start of the second 45 before substitute Bakary sparked the game into life with a well-taken goal, while Edmondson doubled the lead two minutes later.

Pagham pulled one back three minutes later before Trojanowski saved well with his feet to preserve his side's advantage.

With the game hanging in the balance, a 10-minute spell in the sin-bin for Pagham's right-back allowed Blackfield to pull clear, with captain Zak Pickett scoring in the 89th minute.

A red card for a desperate challenge from the last man reduced the hosts to nine players before Rattley rounded off the scoring.

After his first match in charge, player-coach Craig Stanley said: "What a day. I had never been so nervous in my career, but we came good and got the three points we deserved.

"The lads did what I asked, there is still loads to work on and improve on, but that will come in time."

Blackfield & Langley host Cowes Sports at the Gang Warily Recreation Centre on Saturday at 3pm.

Blackfield & Langley: N. Trojanowski, J. Merrett, C. Stanley, Z. Pickett, J. Johnson, C. Langan, H. Edmonson, C. Hockton, C. Rattley, B. Bennett, S. Woodward. Subs: A. Matthews, R. Bakary, J. Higdon.