Blackfield & Langley (0 - 4) Win City
City sailed into the quarter finals of the Hampshire Senior Cup on a bitterly cold night at Gang Warily on Tuesday 2nd December 2014, brushing aside a decent Blackfield and Langley team in one of their best displays of the season.
Fielding a team dictated by suspensions, injuries and cup tied players Paul Masters boys struck in the 2nd minute and never looked like losing. The defence and midfield tightened up since Saturday's disappointing match and every ball from Blackfield was challenged.
In the very first attack of the match and ball was worked into the Blackfield box and Zac Glasspool switched play from left to right to find Warren Bentley and he made sure with his first shot to send City one-up.
Blackfield came back and for a period had the majority of play. Despite this however, young 'keeper, Shaun Weetch making his first team debut, had very little to do and his handling inspired confidence in his defenders. He never put a foot wrong throughout the match. City's midfield of Stuart Green, Adam Tomasso, Luke Dempsey, with Chris Mason playing a more forward role completely snuffed out any chance of a Blackfield breakthrough
Dominic Cope seems to have settled into the number 3 shirt and teamed up well with Ryan Holloway at the back and both managed flanking runs throughout the game.
City's second goal came in the 24th minute when Bentley, on a run into the box, was brought down and was awarded a penalty. This he despatched in his usual manner!
Just before half time Glasspool worked his way into a shooting opportunity and Jack Nicholson in the Blackfield goal, made a great save to tip the ball over the ball 'one flew over the cuckoo's nest' as it were!
At the start of the second half Blackfield made an effort to exert some pressure but without any progress.
Bentley came close to his hat-trick when Nicholson again tipped a goal-bound shot over the bar. The Referee gave a goal kick. Again Bentley went close when it looked more difficult to miss than score but the ball bobbled just before he hit it.
The best goal of the match came in the 67th minute when a real footballing three-man move set Adam Roberts free and he hit the perfect first time shot across the 'keeper. Ten minutes later he was given a rest, to be replaced by Mike McEnery.
With time running out Bentley completed his hat trick in the 86th minute. Before he could get a shot in he was pulled to the ground and with City players appealing a penalty he hooked the ball over the line. After a minute's hesitation the Referee decided not to award the penalty but to award the goal.
Bentley limped off after the goal and the Manager made two late substitutions, Liam Robinson for Bentley and Callum Casson for Holloway. There was even time for Dunn to put in a shot and Glasspool also looked set but the ball was smothered by a defender. Glasspool worked extremely hard throughout the game and was very unlucky not to be on the score sheet.
City: Shaun Weetch, Ryan Holloway, Dominic Cope, Stuart Green, Luke Dempsey, Adam Tomassoo, Adam Roberts, Chris Mason, Zack Glasspool, Warren Bentley, Geoff Dunn, Mike McEnery, Ben Stanbrook, Callum Casson and Liam Robertson.
