Division One Cup
Quarter Final
The 61 FC 1 Langford 2
Tuesday, 20 January 2004
Langford earned themselves a semi-final pIace in this quarter-final tie staged at a damp Forde Park due to the scheduled home side having no floodlights.
The Reds started with side that finished the game at Pitstone on Saturday.
It was The 61FC that produced a shock opening as the Reds conceded an early goal for the second game running. Aaron Lewis running across Lee Rogers just inside the box before firing home into the bottom far corner. It could have been worse within the next two minutes as the large figure of Edward Nwachuklwa worked himself free but could only fire wide of Kyle's goal. The Reds so nearly got back into the game as a through ball that was blatantly deflected by a 61FC hand allowed Steve Starling in to force goalkeeper Charles to parry a shot but with the goal at his mercy Starling uncharacteristically fired wide. Julian Bennett tried his luck from distance but was also off target. The pressure was mounting and the Reds forced a couple of corners the second of which led to a well-deserved equalizer. Robert Groves swung the ball over, Bradley Ritson nodded down to Mark Nunn who turned and fired home at the second attempt. The 61 quickly responded and Kyle had to be quick off his line as Nicholas Abrahams burst through into the Reds area. The first half was a very competitive affair with both sides showing total commitment. It was Langford that scored what was to prove to be the winning goal in the thirty-sixth minute as a precisely weighted pass from Marc Holmes freed Steve Starling on the left and he drew out Keeper Charles before flicking the ball past him for an excellent finish. Mark Nunn so nearly opened up a two-goal lead but keeper Charles again saved well at the second attempt. More pressure from the Reds resulted in more corners and Charles came to the rescue again gathering Robert Groves crosses before they could find a Langford head. The last action of the half saw Jamie Kyle in action as he produced two good saves the second of which for a corner that saw the ball headed over. HT 2-1.
The 61FC made a half time substitution replacing defender Mark Davie with Ryan Smith.
Kyle was called into action again as he save low at his near post from Aaron Lewis. Langford then took the game by the scuff of the neck and enjoyed and enormous amount of possession and territorial advantage but could not claim any further goals. Charles again proving his worth in goal pushing a Steve Starling 30 yard effort onto a post and then saving well eventually trapping the ball with his knees from a dipping Robert Groves effort. The last twenty minutes the surrogate home side took advantage as the Reds slackened their grip and Aaron Lewis could well have forced the game into extra time with steadier finishing. Mark Nunn saw his effort cleared off the line and Charles had the final say when he brilliantly tipped a Bradley Ritson header over for a corner after a good delivery into the box from Shaun Jenkins. From the corner Ritson was denied again as his header was cleared off the line. FT 2-1
At the end it was Langford that progressed into an away semi-final with the winner of the Colney Heath and Welwyn Garden City game but The 61FC certainly made it an entertaining game to prove that they intend to make Langford work very hard for the League points when they return to Forde Park on Saturday.
The 61FC (Luton);
Charles; Davie; Welch; Haider; Nwachuklwa; Mapp; Sapsford; Gravestock; Kent; Abraham; Lewis.
SUBS; Ryan Smith for Mark Davie (45), Greg Perry for Chris Mapp (55), James Duguid for Leigh Welch (81)
SUBS NOT USED; John McGroary, Mark Durcan
Langford;
Kyle; Stillwell; Lowden; Rogers; Ritson; Bennett; Goldsmith; Nunn; Holmes; Starling; Groves
SUBS USED; Shaun Jenkins for Wayne Goldsmith (81).
SUBS NOT USED; Dan Wilson, Lee Downham, Jamie Campbell, Roy Ryall.
GOALS
The 61FC (Luton); Aaron Lewis (3)
Langford; MarkNunn (15), Steve Starling (36)
Bookings & Sending off;
The 61FC (Luton); Scott Kent (b, 46), Ryan Smith (b, ?)
Langford; none
Referee; Mr P. Mallett,
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