Blackfield & Langley 4, Romsey Town 1

BLACKFIELD showed that they are adapting well to life in Wessex 2 with a four-star victory over highly-regarded Romsey on a chilly Tuesday night at Gang Warily, writes Greg Boughton.

A slick, damp pitch should have suited Romsey's passing game, but Blackfield repeatedly hustled them off the ball, and their pacy strikers punched holes in a shaky-looking rearguard.

Blackfield took the lead from a disputed penalty midway through the first half when Simon Woodley was adjudged to have blocked a corner-kick with his hand; Steve Hartley scored from the spot. Romsey could have no complaints about the second goal, though. That was walked in by Neil Williams from Matt Gateshill's head-back after Blackfield had ripped Town apart down the left.

Romsey started the second half with renewed vigour, winning a penalty of their own almost immediately when Paul Smith was fouled by Dean Mayes. But Phil Kinally saved Simon De'ath's spot-kick.

The evening's third penalty gave Romsey hope. Mayes was again the culprit, bringing down De'ath, and as that was his second bookable offence he was sent off. This time De'ath made no mistake from the spot, and with 35 minutes to play against ten men Romsey must have fancied their chances.

But Blackfield clearly hadn't read the script, and continued to play to their strengths.

Further goals on the break by sub Rob Morant and the highly-impressive Williams made it 4-1, and the hosts' determination to get behind the ball in defence snuffed out Romsey's attacking threat.