BLACKFIELD & Langley will set sail to Cowes Sports tomorrow evening (Tuesday, 7.45pm) looking to build on their nine-point lead at the Sydenhams Premier summit.

The Watersiders’ whirlwind start continued on Saturday as they clocked up their tenth straight league victory 3-0 over Bemerton Heath Harlequins at Gang Warily.

Kane Daysh, Jordan Ngalo and an own goal did the job before Liam Robinson spoilt an otherwise perfect day by getting himself red-carded.

Although the chasing teams have games in hand, Blackfield’s impressive 100 per cent record has left their rivals with it all to do in the race for the title.

Asked the secret behind Blackfield's jet-propelled start, co-assistant boss Chris Farrell said simply: “The bench.

“We’ve got four or five players, if not more, who are not starting every game who could easily play for most other teams in our league.

“We’ve got options there to change the game and, if someone is missing for whatever reason, we’ve got the bodies there to compensate.

“We’ve still got to go out and play well, obviously, and having James Wood (coach/assistant) here has made a big difference with all the hard work on the training pitch.

"James spent a long time at Poole Town where the word ‘losing’ was not an option. He’s brought some good qualities to the table and helped us defensively, but we've also been quite clinical in front of goal."

Tonight’s hosts Cowes were beaten 5-3 at home on Saturday by Glenn Burnett’s Andover Town, who sit nine points behind Blackfield with three games in hand.

Zach Glasspool (3), Reece Rusher and Mike Gosney scored for the north Hampshire club who tomorrow face the toughest of tests away to third-placed Lymington Town.

Pre-season title favourites Sholing hit another bump in the road at reigning champions Portland, beaten 2-1 at the Weyline Stadium.

The Boatmen squandered chances galore to build on Dan Mason’s fourth-minute opener and were punished when Ryan McKechnie (penalty) and Lewis Clarke scored in the space of two minutes late on.

It was Portland’s first home victory since the opening day of the season and boss Simon Browne said: “There’s been plenty of games this season where we’ve been in Sholing’s position but haven’t killed sides off. We made Sholing pay.”

Boatmen's boss Dave Diaper, who leads his side to struggling Petersfield Town tomorrow evening, summed up: "Absolutely gutted, but you can't win games if you miss the amount of chances we did.

"However, give Portland credit for capitalising on some poor defending."

The joy of Team Solent’s 8-1 win over Petersfield didn’t last long. The Students slipped to their ninth league defeat of the season 3-1 at Shaftesbury and are one of a trio of teams stuck on four points.