Division One
Langford 2 Haywood United 4
Saturday, 27 September 2003
Haywood United visited an Autumnal and cloudy Forde Park on the back of two successive League defeats and inflicted Langfords first League defeat since the opening day of the season. Langford welcomed back a clean shaven Leigh Sutton in defence relegating Dan Wilson to the bench.
The Reds had the advantage of an early goal when Steve Starling took full advantage of a tremendous howler by visiting keeper Adams who completely missed his attempted clearance and allowed the Langford striker a free run at goal to roll the ball in for the opener with just two minutes gone. The visitors then took the bulk of possession and in midfield exploited the less than 100% fitness of Bradley Ritson by winning the majority of balls in air to put pressure onto the Reds back line. Uylatt coming to the rescue with a double save to deny Stefan Wilson an equaliser in their clearest opening. Langford came back and played some good football and was denied a second goal when a goal line clearance from a Shaun Jenkins header after a Robert Groves far post corner. The visitors meanwhile continued to make chances with Trevor Hercules and Stefan Wilson both off target. The deserved equaliser came after twenty eight minutes when Stefan Wilson firing home from inside the area after a Langford move had broken down in the visitors half. Chances for both sides up until the break with Julian Bennett and Bradley Ritson coming close for the home side and Stefan Wilson always a threat for United. HT 1-1.
Haywood came very close to taking the lead within the first two minutes after the break and Wayne Goldsmiths goal line clearance from Stefan Wilson stabbed shot keeping the score level. Steve Starling, who is having a fine season so far, could have given Langford the advantage, latching onto Wayne Goldsmiths precise pass, fired over as goalkeeper Adams just did enough to put him off. Starling again set up Holmes and he saw his on target effort palmed away for a corner. Just after the hour Ben Williams who was one of the visitors more influential players produced a determined run down the Langford that ended with a shot just over the bar. Haywood took the lead in the sixty -seventh minute when Gary Wray put a deep cross into the Langford area and Stefan Wilson plantedt a firm header past Barry Uylatt. Play went a bit flat after that but Langford couldnt take advantage of a loose ball in the area after goalkeeper Adams had flapped at and lost a Lee Rogers free kick from just inside the visitors half. However an equaliser did come with eight minutes remaining and it was that man Steve Starling latching onto a threaded pass to finish superbly for his ninth of the season. The Reds supporters would have settled for that but Haywood had other ideas and regained the lead two minutes later when substitute Saikis cross was dummied in the area by Wilson allowing Shaun Walker to fire home from eight yards. It effectively killed the Reds off and with minutes of normal time remaining a defensive error allowed in Stefan Wilson and although his shot that was going wide, it was deflected in by Paul Chamberlain and made the final scoreline 2-4 to Haywood. Even so in stoppage time man of the match Julian Bennetts header from Robert Groves cross skimmed the crossbar but by then it was too late. FT 2-4
Another midweek of inactivity for the Reds but next Saturday will see the visit of the League leaders Welwyn Garden City kick off 3.00pm. The following Tuesday will see the Reds at Forde Park again this time Challenge Trophy action in a second round tie against Totternhoe the game will kick off at 7.30pm.
Langford;
Uylatt; Jenkins; Sutton; Rogers Chamberlain;; Bennett; Ritson; Groves; Starling; Holmes; Goldsmith
SUBS USED; Stillwell for Rogers (87); Wilson for Jenkins (89)
SUBS NOT USED; Mark Lloyd, Ben Shearing, Roy Ryall.
Haywood United;
Adams; Stevens; Lambert; Francis; Hercules; Wray; Williams; Paul; Walker; Wilson; Woodfine.
SUBS USED; McStraw for Paul (70), Saiki for Woddfine (84)
SUBS NOT USED; Bateman
GOALS
Langford; Steve Starling (2, 82),
Haywood United; Stefan Wilson (28, 67), Shaun Walker (84), Paul Chamberlain ( 88 o.g.)
Bookings & Sending off;
Langford; none
Haywood United; none
Referee; Mr. B. Jones (Croxley Green) |
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