Division One
Tring Athletic 0 Langford 1
Saturday, 13 September 2003
Langford visited high-flying Tring Athletic for their last first team fixture at a sunny Miswell Lane. Athletic are due to move on to the now amalgamated Tring Town?s Pendley Sports Centre for the start of next season.
Langford stunned their hosts after five minutes when Steve Starling put pressure on Tring Athletic?s sweeper Dave Foskett and forced an error to allow himself the chance to slide the ball home past Vincent from eight yards. It was the start that the Reds built on and produced a first half performance that was only lacking further goals as the Tring back line were looking decidedly uncertain for most of the half. This was mainly due to the good understanding that is making Starling and Holmes a potential deadly duo for Langford this season. It was that pairing that gave the Reds a chance for a two-goal advantage but Vincent in the Tring goal did well to save with his legs to deny Starling. Andy Humphries was to prove Tring?s most menancing forward of the afternoon and with twenty minutes gone he got behind the Langford defence but his excellent cross ?found nobody home?. Stuart Steadman shot wide of Uylatt?s right hand post after the Reds defence failed to clear. There was a slight delay in proceedings as the home team?s defender John Perry received treatment after a nasty clash of heads with team-mate, Danny Kindell and after trying to play on was eventually replaced by Grant Mosley. After the stoppage the Reds were continued to make inroads with Robert Groves having a dangerous low cross hacked away for a corner and Starling heading just wide form a Marc Holmes cross. Andy Humphries was again in the thick of the action and his turn and shot after receiving Dave Foskett?s free kick narrowly went past the far post. Play then quickly went back into the Tring half with Langford forcing a corner that Ritson headed over. In the closing minutes of the first half a long goal kick set Andy Humphries away but Uylatt was equal to the task to meet the oncoming forward and punch his attempted lob away from just inside the penalty area. One more effort from both sides in stoppage time with Johnson?s looping header straight into Uylatt?s hands and Starling again for the visitors shooting over after a good build up. It had been a good half for the watching spectators, with Langford deserving their interval lead.
After the interval Tring pushed Andy Humphries up to join Skyers and Johnson and for the first ten minutes the Reds were put under considerable pressure although only one clear chance was created with Uylatt smothering Humphries effort from four yards out. Slowly Langford weathered the storm and Ritson, Starling and Holmes always looked dangerous when moving forward. Just after the hour Tring did find the net from a corner but the ?goal? was disallowed for pushing. The nearest efforts of the second half for the visitors came from headers and Ritson, Bennett and Catmur all went close as the Tring defence continued to look vulnerable in dead ball situations. The Reds were made to work even harder for their victory after losing first Chamberlain and then Catmur to injury with nine minutes remaining but with the team spirit showed this season coming to the fore again. Everybody gave that little bit extra required to keep the result the Reds had worked so hard for even through the additional eight minutes of stoppage time that was played. The win moved Langford up to seventh place and with a game in hand and five games unbeaten the Reds might be capable of moving even higher if the current form continues.
Next Saturday the F.A.Vase takes centre stage and for the Reds it?s a visit to Eagle Bitter United Counties side Yaxley. If the Reds force a draw the replay will be at Forde Park on Tuesday the 23RD with a 7.30 k.o.
The Reserves won their Reserve ChallengeTrophy match at Winslow United today by 3 goals to 2 and next Saturday will play their first home League game of the season against Haywood United reserves k.o. 3pm
Tring Athletic;
Vincent;Foskett;Kindell;Mendicino;Perry;Gibbs;Lewis; Humphreys; Johnson; Skyers; Steadman.
SUBS; Mosley for Perry (42); Whicker for Johnson (78) Tardieu for Steadman (78)
SUBS NOT USED; Richard Vincent, Ray Brimsdown
Langford;
Uylatt; Sutton Stillwell; Ritson; Chamberlain; Catmur; Bennett; Groves; Holmes; Starling; Goldsmith
SUBS; Wilson for Chamberlain (72), Alinson for Catmur (81)
SUBS NOT USED; Roy Ryall
GOALS
Tring Athletic; none
Langford; Steve Starling (5)
Bookings & Sending off;
Tring Athletic; Whicker (b-85)
Langford; None
Referee; Mr Michael Taylor ( St Albans) |
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