CRAIG McAllister scored twice on his debut as Blackfield & Langley kept the pressure on Sydenhams Premier leaders Andover Town with an emphatic 3-0 win over AFC Portchester at Gang Warily.

In a shock turn of events, former Eastleigh targetman Craig McAllister joined the Watersiders’ promotion push after parting company with Evo-Stik South Premier strugglers Gosport Borough.

Three first-half goals by Blackfield – one from Liam Robinson and two from 37-year-old McAllister – had killed the contest by half-time.

And, although Portchester gave a better account of themselves after the break, they couldn’t find a way back against a stubborn Blackfield defence who have made clean sheets a speciality this season.

The Watersiders have conceded just 22 goals in 31 league games so far.

The two teams will meet again at Gang Warily tomorrow evening (Tuesday, 7.45pm), this time in the semi-finals of the Sydenhams Wessex League Cup.

Saturday’s result left Blackfield nine points behind pace-setters Andover with a game in hand, but Portchester co-boss Ian Saunders reckons the promotion-hungry Watersiders are the class act of the division.

He tweeted: “Gotta say it’s tough when you come away from a game with nothing, but for me @bandlfc are, in my opinion, the best side in our league.

“Another learning curve for us, can’t wait for another chance on Tuesday.”

McAllister’s departure from Gosport comes just two months after he joined Borough as playercoach following Alex Pike’s return to the club.

Gosport chairman Iain McInnes described the striker’s exit as “surprising.”

Borough travel to Bishop’s Stortford for a must-win game tomorrow and, curiously, Pike won’t be in charge. Due to what McInnes referred to as “family commitments”, Rowan Vine, Louis Bell and Jay Keating will run the team.

Pike has picked up just two points from 14 matches in his second spell at the helm.

Gosport lodged a seven-day notice of approach with Blackfield & Langley for central midfielder Sean Stewart. But Stewart, who joined the Watersiders from Weymouth, has turned them down.

“Sean’s committed to the club,”

said B&L co-assistant boss Chris Farrell. “He hadn’t been playing when he joined us, but he’s got better the more he’s played.”