BLACKFIELD & Langley defender Joey Byrne will sit out tonight’s Sydenhams Premier showdown at home to his old club Bournemouth Poppies.

Byrne’s disclocated shoulder ‘popped out’ once again in Saturday’s 4-3 extra-time win at Verwood Town in the Sydenhams League Cup.

Though the injury was a setback, manager John Robson took solace from the performance of Brazilian substitute Virgilio Pinto

“We switched Kev Gibbens to the back and had Virgilio feeding off Ekow Elliott up front,” the boss explained. “Not only did the young lad end up scoring, but he was excellent when he came on. We scraped through in the end, but the pleasing thing for me was the performance of the young lads. Jesse Gould, a central midfielder, was outstanding when he came on and Franklyn Clarke, a centre-half we’ve signed from Wimborne, stood out.

“We also played Edward Dadzie at right-back. Ekow brought him to the club and he was very good too. These young boys are a bonus at a time when we’re short of players. It saves us having to go out and put seven-day notices of approach in.”

Saturday’s tie ended 2-2 after 90 minutes with Elliott and Gibbens wiping out Matt Groves’ opener for Verwood before Charlie Gajic levelled in the 89th-minute.

Sub Pinto put Blackfield ahead ten minutes into the extra period before Elliott struck again.

A trip to Whitchurch awaits Robson’s men in round three.

There was disappointment for James Taylor’s Team Solent, beaten 2-1 at home by US Portsmouth (Ryan Coker, Connor Smith) who will now host Winchester City.