Velocity Wessex League Premier Division
Saturday 3rd February 2024
‘It’s only egg and chips tonight as Rockies’ stay in the mix with Pitman treble’.
Shaftesbury 4
(Pitman 2,12, 49, Kellaway 26)
Blackfield & Langley 1
(Roberts 14)
Brett Pitman reached 46 competitive team goals for the season with another hat trick over visitors Blackfield & Langley. The ‘Watersiders’ arrived fresh off the back of two victories to move away from the danger zone of the Velocity Wessex League Premier Division.
Manager Jim Milligan had been looking to hit Blackfield & Langley early doors and had brought in Frome Town midfielder Tyson Pollard with Callum Sweeney and George Bennett back in on the bench. Luke Holmes was unavailable with Liam Farrugia suspended. Luke Burbidge is now Head Coach as we prepare for the shelter skelter ride of a potential promotion season.
Former Portsmouth star Pitman has scored a hat trick or more nine times this season as we look to keep ourselves in the title race. He had soon opened up another account in the 2nd minute when Asa Philips fished over a cross that Pitman headed past Oliver Harrison to put us in front.
The ‘Boy’ was very nearly back in town when Steve Devlin found Philips who’s downward header was swept away by the diving Harrison’s legs denying us a second goal.
A fast start delivered and ten minutes later Pitman got clear of the Blackfield & Langley defence to sweep his second past Harrison. To their credit the visitors responded almost immediately as Oliver Brown rattled Shane Murphy’s crossbar from close range and Joe Roberts headed in the rebound. 2-1, and the ‘Watersiders’ were back in the game.
Blackfield & Langley’s young side looked useful marshalled by the experience of Zak Pickett at the back and Jahiem Dotse lively up front with Sam Davidson and Eddie Perrett keeping a watch on him.
Devlin then found Pitman who planted the ball into the side netting. The visitors having shovelled the ball off the line as it it was recycled again. I think the ‘Boy’ (Philips) was about town in there somewhere. It was all a bit of a mess!
Then came the moment we all look forward to seeing. Pollard used his Pitching In Southern League experience to thread in a second ball to Louis Kellaway who broke clear and planted the ball past Harrison with 26 minutes gone to make it 3-1. A ‘Rockies’ favourite and the best moment of the match. This was Louis 3rd goal of the season.
Kellaway turned provider four minutes after the break as Pitman slid in to complete his hat trick at the back post to extend our lead. After that the game somewhat faded out especially after skipper Devlin saw red for a second yellow after a foul and then getting in a situation with an opposing player. Devlin felt he had stepped on his foot and reacted and was sent off.
Milligan brought on Callum Sweeney and Aaron Roberts to see the game out as that was the requirement. Certainly the loss of Devlin killed the game as a contest and we allowed Blackfield & Langley a lot of possession to see out the game and sit back.
This wasn’t classic. It didn’t need to be. It just had to be got over the line and moved on from quickly with a nasty looking trip to Fareham Town on Tuesday night awaiting. We now face three away trips also to Hythe & Dibden and Laverstock & Ford before the big boys come knocking. We just have to keep in there and see where it takes us.
Shaftesbury – Murphy, Perrett, Davidson, Bartlett, Beard, Kellaway, Devlin, Pitman, Philips, Pollard, Satterley
Subs used – Roberts, Sweeney
Blackfield & Langley – Harrison, Hughes, Sheibatzedah, Blackburn, Rose, Pickett, Dotse, Mealing, Roberts, Brown, Roocroft
Subs used – Corrigan, Cheshire, Taylor, Holman
Sent off – Devlin (Shaftesbury)
Officials – B Waymark, G.Franklin,
A.Lockley
Attendance – 135
Report/Photos – Avril Lancaster 🐌⚽
Sam Davidson tussles with Blackfield & Langley. Steve Devlin, Jahiem Dotse and Eddie Perrett monitor the situation. Or is this a new dance routine?
Eddie Perrett – good to see him back. Calling number 29!
Sam Davidson steady at the back.
Brett Pitman – always on it and wanting more goals!
