MISSED CHANCES MEANS DEFEAT AT THE MANOR

The Reds four match unbeaten run came to an end at Grosvenor Vale on Saturday but the result was in doubt even up until the last few minutes. The Reds had Dave Cook and Dorian Small back in the defence and a rare League appearance from Andy Pilgrim deputising for injured Gareth Grant as the only changes from Tuesday’s game with Rothwell Corinthians.

As Langford penned the home side back in their own half for much of the opening fifteen minutes they created enough chances to take a comfortable lead before the Manor could raise their first serious attack. In the first minute Pilgrim brought out a good save from home keeper Tasker as he got his head to a Ricky Case cross. Tasker again saved Manor when Barnes broke through even though perhaps it did warrant a pass to Lee Pateman who was in a better position. Pateman himself was set through on goal following a four man build up but as the goalkeeper came out to face the advancing forward he lobbed over him but cleared the crossbar as well. After all the pressure it was Ruislip that scored the opener with their first attack, experienced forward Mick Swaysland heading home his sixteenth League goal of the season into the far corner of the net from a free kick. Langford continued to create and miss more opportunities as Groves and Pateman came close but not close enough. A Groves steamer from twelve yards hit Pateman squarely in the back taking the wind out of his sails for a few moments and then he recovered only to see his header hit the crossbar later in the half. Ruislip had come close to taking a two goal advantage when following a corner and Ricky Case was forced to clear off the line from Chris Henry after a goalmouth scramble. The home did double the lead on thirty three minutes when a Mick Swaysland headed flick found Chris Henry, who beat his marker before finishing with a left footed effort. It was so nearly a total turnabout minutes later as Danny Bennett brought down Henry in the area and gave Mick Swaysland a chance to increase his 100% record from spot kicks this season. It wasn’t to be for Swaysland however as Edward Winsor produced a good save to his left to push the kick round the post for a corner. Langford produced another chance late in the half as Groves played in Pateman but as earlier his lobbed effort beat both goalkeeper and crossbar.

The second half saw more dominance from the Reds and this time it was rewarded. five minutes in Lee Pateman set Marc Barnes off on a run where he outpaced the defence to square back for Robert Groves to beat his defender and score with a right footed shot. Five minutes later and Langford brought the game back to level terms. A Groves pass to Adam Pitcairn saw the Langford skipper volley a cross in from the right and this time Lee Pateman caught the ball first time to smash home a spectacular equaliser. Dave Cook was forced out the action with an injury to be replaced by Russell Bull’s first appearance of the season. Jim Bywater then came on for Marc Barnes. Substitute Bull so nearly made the comeback complete and it was total disbelief when he headed wide from two yards following Adam Pitcairn’s free kick. As sometimes happens in football the home side went straight up the other end to claim all three points with fifteen minutes remaining. Chris Henry taking advantage of the Reds defence failure to clear scoring his second and the Manor’s third.

Winsor then kept Langford in the game with a good save from Adrian Sear’s volley. The Reds still pushed on and in the final minutes Groves chip into the area saw Lee Pateman so close to getting in a header on goal.

At the end of a pulsating game of superb entertainment Langford came away with nothing, but even the home supporters were saying how much their efforts had warranted some reward.

On Tuesday evening Langford make the short trip to Stotfold for a Bedfordshire Senior Cup first round tie with the winners making the trip to Dunstable Town in the next round. League action at Forde Park next Saturday and a renewal of old acquaintances Colney Heath.as last season’s Division One Champions visit Forde Park.

Langford Edward Winsor; Ricky Case; Dorian Small; Danny Bennett; Dave Cook(Russell Bull); Shayne Willett; Adam Pitcairn; Lee Pateman (Jim Bywater); Mark Barnes (Jim Bywater); Robert Groves