BLACKFIELD & Langley are aiming to complete the Southampton FA Cup and Sydenhams Wessex League title in the next 48 hours.

But they have the tough task of beating Southampton FC U23s at St Mary’s tonight, before the formality of being crowned Wessex champions on Friday, when only a 31-0 defeat at Brockenhurst will cost them the title.

Assistant manager Chris Farrell is hopeful his side will have learnt from last week’s 3-0 Hampshire Senior Cup final defeat against National League South champions Havant & Waterlooville at St Mary’s.

“We gave a good account of ourselves against Havant but we froze early on,” he said.

“Nerves probably played a part, we were in awe of the surroundings and the opposition to begin with.”

Southampton U23s, have been playing in the Southampton Senior Cup to mark the competition’s centenary.

They won their semi-final 1-0 against Lymington FC at Blackfield’s Gang Warily ground, so the Watersiders have some idea of what to expect.

“We assume they’ll put out a similar team to the one that beat Lymington but they within their rights to put out a more senior side,” continued Farrell.

“They were decent on the ball and mobile against Lymington, who made it hard for them.

“It’s really difficult to gauge the strength of the opposition but, let’s be realistic, we’re playing a Premier League club in their own stadium so it’s not going to be easy, whoever they put out.

“We’ll be respectful, they’re all talented young players aiming to get a contract at a Premier League club.

“But this will also be a big experience for them as they don’t usually play at St Mary’s, they’re more used to playing at Marchwood.”

Blackfield’s 1-0 win against Hamworthy on Saturday has put them on the cusp of the Wessex title.

Craig McAllister, their goalscorer against Hamworthy, Aiden Bryan, Joe Butcher are all ineligible tonight, while Ryan Oatley is on holiday.

Farrell added: “We’ve got a squad so will give another good account of ourselves. We’ll be organised and will just try to do what we’ve done all season.

“But Brockenhurst on Friday is a bigger game. We don’t want to win the title on goal difference.”

Routes to the final

Blackfield & Langley

R2 9-0 Hedge End Town (h)

R3 2-1 Alresford Town (h)

QF 2-1 Team Solent (a)

SF 0-0 (won on pens) Sholing

Southampton FC U23s

R2 6-0 BTC Southampton (h)

R3 12-0 QK Southampton (h)

QF 3-0 Winchester City (a)

SF 1-0 Lymington Town