BLACKFIELD & Langley will host Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the FA Cup preliminary round on August 29 – but only after surviving a thrilling second-half comeback by Team Solent.

With 45 minutes gone at Test Park the Watersiders were 3-0 up through Dan Munday, Ekow Elliott and Miguel Laborda Gil, but things changed dramatically after break as the Solent University side chipped away at their lead.

Munday struck again after Solent had made it 3-1, but it was real edge-of-the-seat stuff after that as Matt Sheedy netted his second for Solent followed by one from player-boss James Taylor to make it 4-3.

“We gave them a massive head start and then decided to turn up, but it wasn’t quite enough,” reflected Taylor, who still has several star names missing from his Sydenhams One title-winning squad.

Jesse Waller-Lassen, Sam Byles and Jim Orvis are all in America, while Mark Jordan has spent the summer in Australia.

“We’re still a good few players missing but, as a university side, we always knew it was going to be that way and we’ve just got to deal with it,” added Taylor.

“The second and third-year students should be back around September 20 and then we've got freshers’ week when we’ll get the new intake.”

The Students return to league action on Wednesday away to a Brockenhurst side who came safely through their FA Cup test 2-0 against Fareham Town.

A goal in each half from Elliott Richards and Mark Barker did the trick for the Badgers, who will entertain Southern South & West outfit Yate on Saturday week. Brock are still without new signing Jake Long through injury/suspension.

Alresford Town bowed out of the Cup in unhappy fashion as skipper Sam Carter paid a high price for seeking vengeance in a 1-0 home defeat by Bridport.

After a bright start by the Magpies, Carter took the law into his own hands on 27 minutes after being smashed on the cheekbone.

Despite furious protests to the match officials – and with a lump clearly visible on his cheek – Carter sought revenge right in front of the referee, who had no option but to send him off.

Even with ten men, Alresford were the better team and went close through Liam Magee, Simon Everett, Ben Stanbrook and sub Dan Fox.

But, as tiredness crept in, they were caught on the break with four minutes to go as full-back Chris Clarke broke away for Bridport’s winner.

Bemerton HH held strong for a 2-1 win after Jack Slade and Russell Cook had put them in the driving seat in the Wiltshire derby at Amesbury.

The Harlequins have lodged notice of approach with Folland Sports for ex-Dorchester Town striker David Jerrard, who finished last season dual-signed at Western Way.

Follands reached the end of the FA Cup road 2-1 at Longwell Green Sports, while Lymington Town lost 3-0 at home to Bitton.

But there was good news for Christchurch who came from behind to see off higher league Cadbury Heath 2-1 at Hurn Bridge through James Rowe and Dan Saul.

Former Sholing hotshot Alex Baldacchino will be gunning for AFC Totton in the FA Cup preliminary round on Saturday week.

Baldacchino struck twice and Ash Howes once as AFC Portchester triumphed 3-0 at Bournemouth Poppies to fix up a home date with Steve Hollick’s Stags.

Sholing are also safely through to the next round after registering their first win of the season at Horndean.

Dan Miller headed the Boatmen on course for a 3-1 victory, burying Kev Brewster’s free-kick at the far post.

Jamie Bulpitt played in Dan Mason to make it 2-0 early in the second half and, although Horndean pulled one back from the spot, Brewster restored Sholing’s two-goal advantage from Marvin McLean’s assist. Dave Diaper’s men host Swindon Supermarine in the next round.

Moneyfields outgunned Hythe & Dibden (Connor Young) 4-1 at Clayfields through Steve Hutchings (2), Tom McInnes and Ryan Pennery and now entertain promoted Wessex champions Petersfield Town.

Winchester City must wait until tomorrow’s (Tuesday) replay to learn the identity of their preliminary round visitors after Whitchurch United (Jack McCarthy) were held 1-1 at home by Wincanton Town.

Verwood (Liam Donachy, Joe Wood) won the all-Sydenhams Premier clash against Newport IoW to book a preliminary round trip to Fawley AFC’s (Dylan Knight, Aaron Lucas) 3-2 conquerors Almondsbury UWE.

Hamworthy United travel to Hallen for a replay tomorrow (Tuesday) after Sam Davidson converted for the Hammers in a 1-1 home draw.

The winners will entertain Andover Town, who maintained their superb start to the season by crushing Gillingham Town 3-0 at the Portway.

Summer signings Bobby Swayne, Danilo Cadete and Sam Pekun made merry in Town’s first ever FA Cup tie.

FA CUP Preliminary round (local ties, to be played August 29): Moneyfields v Petersfield Town, Almondsbury UWE v Verwood Town, Brockenhurst v Yate Town, Melksham Town or Cowes Sports v Wimborne Town, Winchester City v Whitchurch Utd or Wincanton Town, Hamworthy Utd or Hallen v Andover Town, AFC Portchester v AFC Totton, Sholing v Swindon Supermarine (date to be confirmed), Bradford Town v Christchurch, Blackfield & Langley v Bemerton HH.