Blackfield & Langley 0 Havant & Waterlooville 3

HAVANT & Waterlooville’s National League South class ultimately proved too good for Wessex underdogs Blackfield & Langley in tonight’s Hampshire FA Senior Cup final at St Mary’s.

The Hawks were not at full strength but, with names like James Hayter, Matt Tubbs and Brian Stock in their line-up, they arrived in Southampton armed with lashings of Football League experience.

Among their younger contingent was midfielder Alfy Whittingham – son of Guy - who, just 24 hours earlier, had played a part, on loan, in AFC Totton’s crucial victory at Yate in the Evo-Stik South West.

With just 23 goals conceded in the Sydenhams Premier this season, Blackfield & Langley are nobody’s fools defensively and they kept their shape well first half as Havant patiently stroked the ball around on the carpet-like surface.

The Hawks didn’t muster a shot until the ninth minute when Alfie Rutherford’s blast took a slight nick on its way through to goalkeeper Brad Snelling. A couple of minutes later Hayter couldn’t quite connect with Jordan Rose’s whipped-in cross to the far post.

Another decent crossfield delivery, this time by Blackfield’s Franklyn Clarke, picked out Sam Griffin, but it reached the Watersiders’ top scorer at an awkward height and he couldn’t sort out his feet.

Both sides had free-kicks in decent areas but neither Stock nor Clarke could capitalise. In between, lively Hawks’ striker Rutherford whistled an angled shot just beyond the far post.

Fully occupied defensively by their three leagues higher opponents, Blackfield attacks were rare but when a half chance finally arrived on 36 minutes Rudy Plummer fired wildly into the empty stand behind Ben Dudzinski’s goal.

The Hawks kept probing and when Whittingham’s shot deflected into Rose’s path Snelling blocked well with his feet.

Tenacious as ever, Whittingham -deployed at right wing-back - was then yellow carded for bringing Griffin down from behind in his haste to win the ball back.

Blackfield, who pride themselves on clean sheets, looked set to go in at half-time with another one, but the deadlock was broken on 44 minutes when a beautifully struck 20-yarder from Andreas Robinson found its way into the net. Snelling got a touch, but not enough to keep it out.

Whittingham clipped Ryan Oatley’s ankles just before the break and that, combined with his previous night’s exertions, saw him make way for Wes Fogden for the second half.

Blackfield saw far more of the ball after the break but shots by Plummer, from Griffin’s pull-back, and Ryan Oatley were wayward.

But on 58 minutes one of many probing deliveries by Clarke was punched out only as far as Connor Doe whose goalbound shot was headed over by Lee Molyneaux.

Havant looked rattled and, not long after, Molyneaux was booked for fouling Plummer.

The game was getting tetchy, which suited Blackfield, and, after Griffin had burst down the left, Clarke teed up Robinson whose shot bent wide.

But just when the tide seemed to be turning the Watersiders’ way, the Hawks turned on style with two goals in a deadly three-minute spell.

Both emanated from Charlie Tuttle crosses from the left – the first rammed in by Hayter on 81 minutes and the second met with a sweet cushioned header by substitute Jason Prior.

Clarke almost got one back for Blackfield but was denied by Dudsinski.

Blackfield’s assistant manager Chris Farrell said afterwards: “I think the boys were a bit nervous first half, but we had a go second half and made three or four good chances that we didn’t take.

“They killed us dead at the end but, on the whole, I think we did okay.”

Blackfield & Langley: Brad Snelling, Lewis Tallack, Ryan Oatley (Tom Sykes, 87), Joe Byrne, Sam Poole (captain), Connor Doe (Connor Hoare, 68), Liam Robinson, Sean Stewart, Lerone Plummer (Joe Butcher, 80), Franklyn Clarke, Sam Griffin. Subs: Sam Woodward, Tom Sykes, Henry Howes.

Havant & Waterlooville: Ben Dudzinski, Brian Stock (Mike Carter, 74) Matt Tubbs (Jason Prior, 82), Alfie Rutherford, Lee Molyneaux, Andreas Robinson, Jordan Rose, James Hayter, Charlie Tuttle, Marley Ridge, Alfy Whittingham (Wes Fogden, 46). Subs: Rory Williams, Ryan Woodford.

Referee: Matt Russell.

Attendance: 710