TOO often in football beaten managers are so busy complaining about perceived injustices against their own side, that they forget to give credit to the opposition.

So fair play to Moneyfields’ assistant boss Graeme Gee who couldn’t have been more complimentary to Blackfield & Langley as the Watersiders blew the Sydenhams Premier title race wide open at Gang Warily.

With second-placed Petersfield’s game against Fawley rained off, Moneys could have extended their lead at the top to four points with victory over John Robson’s third-placed Blackfield.

But their plans came a cropper with a 2-1 defeat on Southampton’s Waterside and Gee was honest enough to admit that the Portsmouth pace-setters were well beaten.

He also believes the title could well end up at Gang Warily for a second time in three years.

Speaking after goals from sub Ed Zanin and a rejuvenated Liam Green had moved B&L to within three points of the Money men with a game in hand, ex-Newport IoW and Bashley midfielder Gee said: “Until today I thought Winchester were the best side.

“On the night they beat us at our place they were fully deserving of victory.

“But, based on that performance, I’d have to say Blackfield are the best team we’ve played.

“We froze again and they were way too good for us. Their experienced players stood up to be counted and the spine of their side looked so strong.

“Kev Gibbens did exceptionally well against our front two (Steve Hutchings and Alfie Rutherford), Dan Cann looked strong up front and gave them something to hit and, just behind him, Liam Green was the player I remember of old.

“Plus their two wide boys, Ekow Elliott and Danny Young, are a handful.

“If Blackfield play like that week in, week out, they’ll win it, but it’s going be a close-run thing and I still think Petersfield are in with a very good chance.”

Moneyfields can’t be ruled out either, but Gee has reservations about the depth of their squad, particularly in light of recent injuries.

“A few of our youngsters got exposed today, we got a bit bullied, and the front two didn’t perform like we’d normally expect,” he conceded.

“But take nothing away from our lads, they’ve been exceptional. We didn’t expect to be up there and maybe the pressure of being where we are has got too much for them. But we’ll embrace it and go again.”

With ex-Saint Gibbens summoning up all his experience, Blackfield effectively shackled Hutchings and Rutherford who, between them, are fast closing in on 60 Wessex goals this team.

Keeping the dynamic duo quiet was no mean feat for the Watersiders who had suffered a pre-match blow when goalkeeper Scott O’Rourke pulled out sick, leaving young Jack Nicholson to step in for his full league debut.

The Watersiders even shrugged off the loss of wideman Danny Young to a collarbone injury after half an hour and it was his replacement, recent signing Ed Zanin, who plundered the opener three minutes before the break.

Elliott, switched from the left to right flank, delivered low into the box and the zippy Zanin – a Totton & Eling player last season – got to the ball fractionally ahead of veteran Moneys’ keeper Dave Hook and stabbed home from close range.

There had been little to choose between the sides until then, but Blackfield came into their own after the break and, having drilled one long-ranger wide, ex-Lymington, Eastleigh and Winchester midfielder Green coolly doubled their advantage on 52 minutes, firing an angled shot past Hook from Michael Durdey’s assist.

With a minute of stoppage time played, Moneys’ defender Jack Lee pushed up from the back to slam in a consolation.

“John (Robson) and I came up with a game plan to nullify Hutchings and Rutherford and it worked. They hardly got a shot on target which can’t have happened too many times this season,” said Blackfield’s assistant boss Chris Farrell.

“Lots of our players had their best game of the season today. Our man-of-the-match was probably Dan Cann, who was outstanding.

“A mention too for the young lad, Jack Nicholson, who found out he’d be playing at 2.30pm and made his full league debut against a side who can be very powerful.

“We’re delighted with the way the players responded to what we asked them to do.

“If you’d said on August 2 that we’d be three points behind the leaders with a game in hand, we’d have taken it, particularly since 13 players have left this club since then.”