Fareham move to league summit with Blackfield win

FAREHAM TOWN leapfrogged their close rivals to the league summit as they gained another comfortable home victory on Tuesday night; the ‘Creeksiders’ securing a two-nil win over Blackfield & Langley after a highly clinical and dominant performance throughout the encounter watched by a crowd of 275 supporters despite Autumn weather at Cams Alders.

The hosts adapted quicker to conditions and scored within four minutes through Sam Woodward; whose deep free kick caught a gust of wind and curled into the far right corner for one-nil. Blackfield did attempt an immediate response as a brilliant spell of interplay released Keegan Kelly through the middle, but his attempt was blasted high over the crossbar.

It should have been two-nil in the seventeenth minute when Matt Pates floated a corner into the box and it was cleared out to reach Josh Benfield, who cut across the volley and dragged off target from an angle. This prompted Blackfield to have a settling spell of possession and this resulted in a big near-miss for Fareham as the shot was cleared off the line.

Blackfield went close on 33 minutes when Jack Mann cut inside and fired wide a shot from twenty-five yards out, whilst a corner was narrowly headed over the crossbar just moments later. Down the other end Fareham were dominating on the counter attack and Pates’ low shot was deflected out to Woodward, who blasted this attempt over before the break.

Heavy rainy downpours awaited both teams upon the restart and it was again Fareham who started the better; Connor Underhill’s deflected tackle falling at Woodward’s feet and he forced the goalkeeper into a diving stop. And it was soon two-nil after 51 minutes when Underhill took his effort from over thirty yards; which was whipped into the far left corner.

James Harwood was further forced to deny a stinging effort from Underhill under pressure, which was reduced as both Mann and Brandon Hill saw attempts over the crossbar after the hour mark. This paved this way for “multiple changes” across both teams as the driving rain began to have an impact; multiple players giving the ball away on a rapid surface.

Blackfield were definitely dominating the ball going into the final stages and had a fine low effort brilliantly blocked by a defender on 77 minutes after hitting the post. But Fareham did eventually calm things down as Cam Sullivan hit the bar with a fierce effort and there were half chances to net a third goal; the hosts also defending well to keep a ‘clean sheet’.

These three points mean that Fareham are now top of the Wessex League after an outstanding winning streak starting in August; although they will likely be overtaken this weekend due to other league games. The Creeksiders will next be playing within the FA Vase on Saturday afternoon (19/10) where they are scheduled to be facing Bitton at Cams Alders.

PICTURED BY FAREHAM TOWN MEDIA: All eyes on a loose ball as sides try to get an advantage of play on Tuesday.