Velocity Wessex Premier football: Blackfield & Langley hold on to deny frustrated Brockenhurst

Velocity Wessex Premier

Blackfield & Langley FC 1

Brockenhurst FC 0

BLACKFIELD & Langley made it three home wins in a row over Brockenhurst after seeing out most of the game with only 10 players.

Harry Edmondson struck after just nine minutes, giving the Watersiders the lead before a first-half red card to Zak Pickett left them holding on against an excellent Badgers side.

The Gang Warily Recreation Centre has not been a happy hunting ground lately for the Badgers, who suffered an ignominious 6-2 defeat last season before a penalty shootout loss in an FA Vase tie.

Brockenhurst started the game well, and spurned two excellent chances to take the lead. The typically lethal Adam Grange was guilty on both occasions, hitting two remarkably wayward efforts when it appeared easier to score.

The Watersiders had made a very scrappy start to the contest. However, with their first chance, Edmondson slotted the ball home after Badgers centre-backs Sam Steel and Jonny Davis challenged for the same ball, allowing it to break to the grateful goalscorer.

Before long, the visitors regained control of the match, and it needed an excellent save from keeper Mike Edgar, repelling the ball out with his legs, to keep his side in the lead.

The match was highly competitive and, with frustrations bubbling over, the referee spotted what many felt was a deliberate elbow from Pickett, resulting in a straight red in the 40th minute.

The Badgers were better after the break, but chances were hard to come by until Mitchell Speechley-Price nodded an excellent cross past Edgar. However, Josh Rose, Blackfield’s man of the match, was on hand to provide a goal-saving clearance off the line.

There was still time for the Watersiders to rattle the woodwork, courtesy of Ethan Chesire, off Aidan Shepard’s cross, but there were no further goals.

Blackfield & Langley manager Wayen Harris said: “Brockenhurst are a really well-drilled side, so keeping a clean sheet with 10 men for so long shows the work on the training ground is having an effect.

“It was a long second half, but effort, attitude, and desire get you through games.

“We have an important run into Christmas now.”

Both sides return to league action, away from home, on Saturday at 3pm; the Watersiders face Moneyfields while the Badgers take on Cowes Sports.

Blackfield & Langley: M. Edgar, R. Hughes, J. Merrett, R. Taylor, J. Rose, Z. Pickett, E. Chesire, J. Mann, J. Roberts, H. Edmondson, A. Shepard. Subs: O. Harrison, B. Corrigan, C. Stratton, A. Sheibatzadeh, M. Wood.

Brockenhurst: A. Skrzyniarz, E. Pearce-Eavis, R. Drake, S. Steel, J. Davis, A. Biss, T. Bailey, M. Rossi, M. Speechley-Price, A. Grange, N. McCarthy-Gardiner. Subs: H. Bartram, F. Bullard, B. Channell, J. James, G. Pomeroy, T. Wellman.