LATE GOALS SEAL CUP TIE IN REDS FAVOUR

The recent three match Langford revival was abruptly halted on Tuesday night at a chilly Goffs Lane as they plunged to their heaviest defeat of the season so far. Broxbourne’s second half four goals being the second time this season they had scored four in a half past the Reds.

Langford gave a debut to Edward Winsor in goal making him “Edward the seventh” as goalkeeper number seven used by the Reds this season! Regular reserve team players, Craig Pateman and Sam Gittings made up the squad on the bench.

The first half saw Langford open strongly and when Robert Groves (on his 250^th first team appearance ) curled a sweet left footed shot into the top corner after three minutes it did look like the Reds 100% at Goffs Lane was in no danger. The hosts had other ideas and for a time laid siege to the Langford area forcing four corners and only having a goal line clearance to show for their dominance. Rob Tungate and Bradley Drisdale both made openings and flashed the ball across the face of the visitors’ goal with Winsor doing well to claim the second effort. An equaliser came as result of yet another corner, the ball being swung in and with Winsor’s reluctance to come for the ball, a defender’s hand did the job for him. From the resulting penalty Daryl Mitchell made no mistake putting spot low to the keeper’s left.

In an entertaining half Langford forced a couple of corners of their own but Williamson was alert and cut out any danger. Gareth Grant came close to the Reds regaining the lead. He collected Pitcairns pass in the area managing to turn and get a shot away but was just wide of the far post. The Reds were playing well on Broxbourne’s fine playing surface and creating chances with keeper Williamson getting to Pitcairns cross inches before Lee Pateman looked set to head home and then Barnes was in with a chance that Williamson deflected for a corner. Langford then made the breakthrough as Gareth Grant’s cross was laid back by Jim Bywater into the path of Marc Barnes he made no mistake from twelve yards out. The Reds were still playing well and Robert Groves saw his well hit effort from distance, after another good build up, fly just wide of the post.

Inside the final minute of the half Tan Tezel threatened to break away from just inside the Reds half but a Danny Bennett foul earned a booking and a chance for one last Broxbourne effort. The ball was hit long to the far post and was headed back into the middle where Emiel Aiken was able to hook home from close range.

For the start of the second half an injury to Langford’s influential centre back Dave Cook saw Craig Pateman making his first team debut. Cook’s lose for Langford was certainly Broxbourne’s gain and they took the game to the visitors’ with Tungatt, Tezel and Aiken picking up on any misplaced passes and generally causing the reshaped defence problems. On fifty-seven minutes another Langford clearance was intercepted by Rob Tungatt setting up Tan Tezel to clip the ball over a stranded Winsor from twenty five yards. Marc Barnes showed an instant response as he outpaced his marker on the right to get in a good cross that Gareth Grant just couldn’t get down with a header over the bar.

Two minutes later and any thought of Langford making the next round were totally extinguished as Rob Tungatt hit home a low shot from an even greater distance than Tezel’s earlier strike.

Langford tried to force their way back into the game but were never allowed to play with the same authority as in the first half. A goal mouth scramble and a Marc Barnes miss from close range was all they could offer in return.

Danny Bennett was having one of his best games in a Langford shirt and his timely tackle on Tan Tezel denied him getting another effort on goal.

Broxbourne played the game out the game using all their three permitted substitutes and while Langford never gave the game up it was Broxbourne who stretched their lead even further with two goals in the dying minutes. Tan Tezel made the most of literally a defensive slip to round Winsor for his second and Broxbourne’s fifth. A last minute corner gave Ross Edwards to move forward and he gratefully accepted a free header to round off the scoring for the night.

Broxbourne will now be at home to the winners of the London Colney / Kingsbury London Tigers tie in the next round.

On Saturday the Reds will be host to Haringey Borough at FordePark. The North London side gained their first League win of the season last Saturday with a 4-1 home win against Colney Heath. However they were brought down to earth in midweek suffering a 0-5 reverse in Premier Division Cup action at high riding Harefield United. There will be no midweek first team game during the following week but the reserves will be at home on Tuesday the 31^st against The 61FC (Luton) reserves in League action. Kick off for this game will be 7.45pm.

Langford; Edward Winsor, Dave Drury (Sam Gittings), Shayne Willett, Danny Bennett, Dave Cook (Craig Pateman), Adam Pitcairn; Gareth Grant, Lee Pateman; Jim Bywater, Marc Barnes, Robert Groves

Broxbourne Borough; Glen Williamson, Gary Taylor, Rob Kemble, Carlo Casali, Ross Edwards, Andy Francos (Ozo Opara), Bradley Drisdale (Okpako Blessing), Daryl Mitchell; Emiel Aiken (Chris Theodoulou), Tan Tezel, Rob Tungatt.