BLACKFIELD & Langley travel to Hamworthy United in the Sydenhams Premier Division on Saturday hoping not to slip on the same banana skin as front-runners Andover Town.

Although Andover still hold a sizeable ten-point lead at the top, their 2-1 home defeat by the Hammers last weekend made it a doubly good day for second-placed Blackfield who were busy dumping Sholing out of the FA Vase.

The Watersiders now have a game in hand over Andover and there is a growing feeling in the Gang Warily air that the title race is far from over.

“The way we look at it is if we keep winning our games, we’ll catch Andover sooner rather than later,” said B&L co-assistant boss Chris Farrell.

“Defensively we’re strong, we’ve kept five clean sheets out of six and the lads seem to have gone up a level.

“We look organised and a lot fitter than last year.”

Blackfield’s Vase success was followed by Tuesday’s 2-0 victory at Tadley Calleva in the Hampshire FA Senior Cup.

“We’re in the last 32 of the Vase, plus three cup quarter-finals (the Hampshire Senior, Southampton Senior and Wessex) and we’re going okay in the league. It’s not a bad school report just before Christmas, is it?” smiled Farrell.

Goals by Connor Doe and Sam Poole proved sufficient to beat Sydenhams One outfit Tadley.

“We made a few changes and the players who came in did the same as those who dropped out,” said Farrell. “We lost 3-2 at Tadley last season (in the Sydenhams League Cup), but this year it’s a completely different ball game.”

Dual-signed AFC Totton striker Nimes Pina picked up an injury last weekend but will hopefully be fit for Saturday.

Blackfield have also re-signed frontman Rico Wilson after a short spell with  Hamworthy, who sit five points behind them in third.

“When Rico decides to bring it all to the table, he’s unplayable,” said Farrell. “It’s all in there, it’s just a matter of getting it out of him. And the good thing is he's not Vase-tied."