Blackfield and Langley match report
match report by Rupert Cane, photos by Simon Roe
Kingstonian showed no sign of an FA Cup hangover as they confidently dispatched Southern Premier Division side Blackfield and Langley in the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy.
Fresh from the 4-0 dismantling of a youthful Macclesfield side, K’s headed to deepest darkest Hampshire on a treacherously wet and windy Wednesday night. The conditions were not conducive to the slick passing football that has become this side’s trademark, but they battled the elements to stamp their authority on proceedings and eventually run out comfortable winners.
In the first half, Dan Bennett and Reece Hall had decent early efforts from the edge of the box, blocked and wide respectively. Fabio Saraiva, really impressive in the left-back role, then embarked on a confident dribble and delivered a cross Hall did well to guide goalwards with his head. The no.10 was unlucky to see it come back off the base of the post.
Two players brought into the side by Hayden Bird then nearly combined for the opening goal. Harry Osborne, a willing runner down the right all night, burst into space and centred low with Dan Thompson agonisingly close to converting on the stretch.
As half-time approached the hosts, who used physicality and little else to try and impose themselves on the contest, should have gone ahead. A fast break ended with a wild shot over the bar as K’s were stretched at the back for the first time.
When Bird walked out for the second half he promised the travelling K’s contingent goals, and within 10 minutes his prediction came true.
It was a classy opener. Bennett, at the centre of so much that was good about K’s, drifted forward before finding Thompson with his back to the goal 10 yards out. The stand-in striker held the ball up, as he did all night, and returned it to Bennett who had continued his run. He bore down on goal and unselfishly squared for Tommy Kavanagh to tap into the empty net.
The midfielder scored his and our second goal midway through the half. This time he owed a debt of thanks to Gus Sow (another replacement player who shone), after his mazy dribble into the box was unceremoniously and illegally halted. Kavanagh thumped home the resulting spot-kick.
Tempers flared as the home side continued to fly into challenges but K’s stayed calm amid the pressure and wrapped up the result with a minute to spare. Hall, who had earlier hit the post again, was replaced by Louie Theophanous, and with possibly the striker’s first touch he found the net. Bennett had a shot saved and Theophanous gobbled the rebound up, taking a couple of touches before firing in.
It rounded off another impressive cup victory for Bird and his side, who have a home game against AFC Sudbury to look forward to in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy.
Blackfield and Langley: 1 - Lewis Noice, 2 - Kevin Yobo, 3 - Harry Medway, 4 - Devane Bongou, 5 - Adeoye Olumuyiwa, 6 - Josh Harfield, 8 - Charlie Gunson, 9 - Hisham Kasimu, 10 - Fatah Makhloufi, 11 - Sam Griffin, 14 - Lerone Plummer.
Subs: 7 - Luke Rae, 12 - Adam Tomasso (for Hisham Kimasu, 23m), 13 - Karl Steinborn-Busse, 15 - Shaquille Gwengwe (for Devane Bongou, 64m), 16 - Jordan Rose (for Harry Medway, HT)
Kingstonian: Rob Tolfrey, Harry Osborne, Fabio Saraiva, Jerry Puemo, Ollie Cook, Tom Kavanagh, Dan Bennett, Gus Sow, Dan Thompson, Reece Hall, Youssef Bamba.
Subs: Louie Theophanous (for Reece Hall, 84m), Calum Davies (for Dan Thompson, 78m), Dan Hector (for Youssef Bamba, 85m), Simon Cooper, Tutu Henriques.
Goal scorers: Tom Kavanagh (51m, 0-1), Tom Kavanagh (62m pen, 0-2), Louie Theophanous (86m, 0-3)
Attendance: 85
