REDS RECORD FIRST HOME LEAGUE WIN

The Reds claimed their first home win in six attempts by overcoming lowly Haringey Borough by a score line of 2-0. Joe Delasalle, Kevin Patterson and Dorian Small all returned to the starting line up after missing the 6-2 mauling at Broxbourne Borough the previous Tuesday evening.

The game itself was as overcast as the FordePark sky. There wasn’t a lot between the sides apart from the visitors not being able to find the target throughout the first half. For Langford a more varied build up did create some chances with keeper Roberts tipping over an early Robert Groves effort and with Groves again missing out on putting away a Barnes lay back with the goal beckoning, saw the Reds missing out on taking an early lead. It did look like being one of those days when good clearance from Joe Delasalle was worked through to Gareth Grant but his curling effort was inches wide of the right hand post. The visitors worked hard to contain Langford and had Tamba Ngongou booked for a foul on Lee Pateman. Finally the Reds did take a half time lead on thirty four minutes with Joe Delasalle bundling the ball over from Gareth Grant’s corner but it did take confirmation from the assistant referee that the ball had crossed the line. The nearest Haringey came to an equaliser was an Rashid Kamara shot across goal following a good build between Embal and Wilkinson that created the opening.

The second half was only marginally better with Haringey at least getting Reds keeper Winsor into the game occasionally. The Reds also had their moments with a good interchange of passes between Grant and Barnes saw the latter bring a good save from Roberts. Generally it wasn’t an exciting match for the gathered fans with Langford’s defence making some timely tackles to thwart the visitors. The closest chance of the game for the visitors’ came in a bizarre incident nine minutes from time as Reds goalkeeper Winsor appeared to clearly fouled when trying to collect a high ball played into the area. From the resulting loose ball the Reds survived by having to make two goal line clearances to preserve the slender lead.

Four minutes left and another goal line clearance by Haringey’s skipper David Patten getting back to clear from Gareth Grant. The game was probably summed up by Langford’s second goal with just two minutes remaining. Substitute Jim Bywater swung the ball into the area and was met by Gareth Grant’s right boot but not with the clean connection he had hoped for and the ball bobbled over the line with the keeper stranded. They all count though and Langford move up to seventh place with this win.

The first team will be at home again next Saturday when Chalfont St Peter will be first time visitors to FordePark for a League game. This will be followed by a Hinchingbrooke cup against Rothwell Corinthians on Tuesday.

Langford; Edward Winsor; Shayne Willett, Joe Delasalle, Kevin Patterson, Danny Bennett, Dorian Small, Adam Pitcairn; Gareth Grant; Mark Barnes (Jim Bywater); Lee Pateman, Robert Groves
Haringey Borough; Julian Roberts, Glenn Shortey, Danny Gibson (Louis Dainty), Chris Perifimou, David Patten, Tamba Ngongou, Rashid Kamara, Alfred Kamara, Dean Wilkinson, Brahim Embal (Calvin Petrie), Onaldo Teixoto Dos Santos.