Division One
Langford 5 Colney Heath 3
Saturday, 21 February 2004
The Reds showed both sides of their character in another goal feast at Forde Park. Welcoming back several players who were missing from last weeks line-up but missing Julian Bennett in midfield.
The first half was probably as bad as the Langford team had played all season with a shaky defense, a midfield that wasnt competitive and the forwards starved of supply and forced to chase aimless long balls in an attempt to create something. The nearest the home side came were a Simon Catmur header that was tipped over and a late effort from Marc Holmes that the goalkeeper smothered. The visitors however had the aid of strong wind in their favour and soon began to boss the game, scoring twice before the halfway period of the first half. On nineteen minutes Lee Rogers attempted clearance only found a Colney Heath shirt and he swept the ball into the centre of the area where CHRIS INGRAM ghosted in between two defenders to fire home. Three minutes later it was 2-0, the wind carrying the ball over Catmur and leaving Lee Rogers exposed with two Magpies bearing down on goal. Ulyatt came off his line to assist but DANNY PICKETT slid the ball past the oncoming keeper. At half time Langford looked dead and buried and talk of a large home defeat took place over the half time tea. HT 0-2.
The Reds began the second determined to claw themselves back into the game and from the start there was a different attitude as well as that wind in evidence. MARC HOLMES scored twice with well taken half chances within the opening ten minutes to bring the Reds level. The visitors restored their lead just before the hour when TOBI MORRISSEY fired home in a goalmouth scramble following a corner. Lee Harman replaced Mark Nunn, who looked to be struggling in midfield, Marc Holmes dropping back to cover. Visiting forward Gary Ferguson flashed a shot just wide but Robert Groves replied with a shot that forced goalkeeper Grogan to save well. With twenty minutes left it was the lively LEE HARMAN that showed maturity above his years to bring the game all square again. Collecting a throw-in with his back to goal and with the physical presence of two Colney Heath defenders he showed strength to retain the ball and turn to hit an unstoppable shot high into the visitors net. Forde Parks Goal of the Season so far this term. The game looked to have more goals and Reds piled on the pressure forcing a couple of corners to trouble the visitors defense that were decidedly rattled. Wayne Goldsmith was forced to leave the game early looking very dazed after a heavy challenge in the area. Ben Lowden took his place in his first game back from injury and took up a forward position with Lee Harman moving wide right. Nick Stillwell was pushed into midfield and produced some good linking football as more pressure was brought to bear.
Despite all this it was Gary Ferguson that nearly put the Magpies back in front showing some good ball control in the area but seeing his final shot go wide of the post. The winner came on eighty-seven minutes; Starling was fouled twenty-five yards out on the Langford right. Marc Holmes took the free kick deep to the far post where Simon Catmur headed back across the area to find BEN LOWDEN to score with a close range header. The comeback and three points were finally sealed in the last minute when BRADLEY RITSON scored with a powerful header from a Robert Groves corner. FT 5-3. More disappointment followed for the Magpies as the teams left the field when Scott Lacey was shown a red card after an incident with Steve Starling.
So we now have a few days to get our breath back before the two teams meet again at Colney Heaths Recreation Ground on Wednesday evening in the semi-final of the SSML Division One Cup. It would be a brave man to forecast the outcome of that encounter.
Langford;
Ulyatt; Stillwell; Wilson; Rogers; Ritson; Catmur; Goldsmith; Nunn; Holmes; Starling; Groves.
SUBS USED; Lee Harman for Mark Nunn (62), Ben Lowden for Wayne Goldsmith (75)
SUBS NOT USED; Ciaran Stone; Roy Ryall.
Colney Heath;
Grogan; Burr; Cooper; Tobi Morrissey; Lacey; Mustusamy; Ingram; Pickett; Ferguson; Cader; Drury.
SUBS; Stuart Blackburne for Domonic Cader (76); Paul Page for Chris Ingram (82).
SUBS NOT USED; Kevin Jaques, Craig Johnson.
GOALS
Langford; Marc Holmes (52,54), Lee Harman (70), Ben Lowden (87), Bradley Ritson (90)
Colney Heath; Chris Ingram (19), Danny Pickett (22), Tobi Morrissey (59).
Bookings & Sending off;
Langford; none
Colney Heath; Anthony Mustusamy (b, 21), Scott Lacey (s/o 90)
Referee; Mr J. Berrey (Royston),
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