EKOW Elliott kept Blackfield & Langley’s title bandwagon rolling by grabbing a “lucky” second-half winner at Fawley AFC.

But no sooner had his 66th-minute corner flown directly into the far top corner, than he was withdrawn from the action so that manager John Robson could take a closer look at recent signing Edgar Zanin.

Although a new name to Robson, Zanin featured in 20 Wessex games for Totton & Eling last term while the Hussey brothers were in charge.

“Prior to Saturday, I’d only ever seen him in training,” said Robson. “Ekow’s goal was a lucky one, but I was grateful for that bit of luck because it gave us a chance to let the kid (Zanin) play and I was quite impressed with him. “He’s right-footed, but he played on the left and worked his backside off and did a good job.”

Blackfield’s slender 1-0 win put them third in the table, six points behind leaders Moneyfields who visit Gang Warily this Saturday.

Admitting his B&L boys had been pushed all the way in a tough Waterside derby, Robson said: “They’re the best Fawley side I’ve seen in a long time. They graft and they’ve had some good results.”

Christmas marked a welcome return for Blackfield centre-back Richard Jackson after two months out with torn medial ligaments.

Robson is still hunting high and low for a left-sided attacking player after losing Danilo Cadete to Winchester City.