Reds extend unbeaten League run

Langford hosted Chalfont St Peter in what was the first competitive meeting between the sides. The honours went to Langford in an entertaining match by virtue of two first goals from leading goal scorers, Robert Groves and Lee Pateman. The Reds showed two changes from last weekend’s victory over Haringey Borough. Ricky Case signed from Enfield during the week made his first team debut and Jim Bywater started at the expense of Mark Barnes who was rested to the bench. Kevin Patterson missed the game due to an injury in training.

Langford started well and had a Lee Pateman goal ruled out for offside after just two minutes and went to be the dominant side of the first half. The nearest the visitors came was a chance for Rene Barriteau worked an opening but fluffed his shot. Langford responded with a dangerous Jim Bywater cross that a defender cleared to safety. New signing Ricky Case sent in a cross form the right wing position and Saints goalkeeper Michael Simpson did well to keep out a Lee Pateman header. On Twenty minutes the Reds took the lead with Ricky Case again providing a telling pass from the left to Robert Groves who went on to beat two defenders before smashing home with his less favoured right foot from twenty yards.

It was to be an influential debut for Ricky Case as ten minutes later his cross was met by Lee Pateman’s timely run to smash home Langford’s second. Two up after thirty minutes things were looking good for the Reds with the defence and especially Shayne Willett who had the task of shackling the Saints leading scorer Bradley Bubb proving to have the upper hand over the visitors.

The second half saw the visitors coming more into the game but the Reds defence have proved to be a more resolute outfit in the last few games and continued to keep out the Saints efforts to get back into the game. Robert Groves came close to a third Reds goal with a free kick that John Carroll did well to clear away. Into the last twenty minutes and Ricky Case made way for Mark Barnes and he wasted little time in getting into the action by beating two defenders before keeper Simpson’s challenge thwarted the young forward and claims for a penalty were waived away. For the visitors Bradley Bubb had been kept on a tight rein by Shayne Willett but showed he could still be a danger late in the game firing wide after finally getting in a shot on the turn. Gareth Grant left the action with twelve minutes left and Langford gave a first team debut to regular reserve team defender Ross Scotney and he did not look out of place at this level in the remainder of the game. As this entertaining game went into final few minutes Chalfont forced a couple of corners and John Carroll put in a firm header that cleared the bar. Bubb also got in a shot that was diverted for a corner. Edward Winsor had a competent afternoon between the posts saved his best for late in the game with an acrobatic save from a Steve Hand header.

At the final whistle the Reds win extended their run to four League games without defeat and with just one goal conceded in those games they are looking a much tighter outfit than earlier this year.

On Tuesday evening it’s back to FordePark as Langford take on UCL Division One side Rothwell Corinthians in the Hinchingbrooke Cup. Next Saturday it’s a trip to West London and a visit to Ruislip Manor who are currently in 14^th position in the League. The Reds are unbeaten in their previous League visits to the Manor and will be hoping to extend this run with a positive result.

Langford; Edward Winsor; Ricky Case (Mark Barnes); D. Small; Danny Bennett; Joe Delasalle; Shayne Willett; Adam Pitcairn; Gareth Grant (Ross Scotney); Lee Pateman; Robert Groves; Jim Bywater