Ex-Saint inspires an FA Cup upset (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Ex-Saint eyes a place in FA Cup first round

8:00am Monday 8th October 2012 in Sport By Simon Walter, Senior Sports Reporter

AS a member of the Saints side that lost 4-3 at Tranmere 11 years ago, Kevin Gibbens has experienced his fair share of FA Cup disappointment.

But he ensured he was on the right side of an FA Cup upset by clinching little Blackfield & Langley a shock 3-1 win at Sholing that puts them within 90 minutes of a place in the first round proper for the first time in their history.

Gibbens refused to celebrate after slotting in the Watersiders’ third goal midway through the second half against the club he left last summer after many successful seasons at the Silverlake Arena.

“I spent seven years at Sholing, I’m still really good mates with everyone there and have been to watch a couple of times this season,” explained the 32-year-old. “But I wouldn’t have had time to celebrate even if I wanted to, as everyone mobbed me! “We came here believing we could win and on the day we were the better team.”

This was one of the best days of Gibbens’ career. Certainly more enjoyable than the last of his 12 Saints appearances. Gibbens played the full 90 minutes that wet February night at Prenton Park in 2001, when Glenn Hoddle’s side led 3-0 at half-time before Paul Rideout’s hat-trick helped deny them a quarter-final place.

Defender Charlie Bailey and Ekow Elliott also scored for Blackfield, either side of Kevin Brewster's deflected equaliser.

Full report and more reaction in today's Daily Echo