F.A. Cup, Extra Preliminary Round, 19.08.2006

Played at Biggleswade United

Langford bow out in exciting contest

Langford fans can pack away their maps for Cardiff for another season as Ely City claimed victory at a showery Second Meadow on Saturday afternoon. In a Langford side that had just two players remaining from last season the new managerial team had a tough debut to senior football.

Ely City got to grips with game early but were going to be troubled by the pace of John Coley and Marc Barnes. Simon Warren so nearly put the visitors ahead with an effort that just went wide of an open goal following a Jamie Kyle clearance. On twelve minutes a Langford forward movement broke down in their own half allowing Ely to break down the Reds left. Martin Westcott connected with the cross only to see his shot parried by Kyle but Nick Impey was quickly in to strike home the loose ball. Worse was to follow for Langford as with sixteen minutes gone a collision between Reds goalkeeper Jamie Kyle and Robins Nick Impey resulted in Kyle being stretchered off. Jamie Campbell came off the bench to take over between the sticks. Within two minutes Westcott swooped in on an Andy Chatters cross only to see his effort strike the Reds crossbar. Langford were being marshaled well by the visitors’ defense and Ely struck home a second goal on twenty four minutes. Andy Chatters’ right wing cross supplying the ammunition for Nick Impey to head home for his second of the game. Nine minutes before the break Langford put themselves back into the game with Gareth Grant’s quality pass putting in Marc Barnes for a run on goal which he converted with a finish of equal quality to open his account on his first team debut. The Reds pressured for an equaliser, the closest being a Joe Delasalle header from a Robert Groves corner that Robins keeper Tim Catley turned over the bar. Half time saw the Reds go in one goal down but still in with a chance of turning the game to their advantage.

Six minutes after the interval Lee Pateman showed his strength in midfield to retain the ball and thread a pass through to John Coley who bore down on the Robins goal but had the misfortune to see shot beat the keeper hit the inside of the post and run along the line before being cleared. Jamie Campbell was then called into making a good save to deny Ely’s Andy Chatters after he had been put into a good shooting position by Nick Impey. This was followed by Martin Westcott firing wide when well placed as the Robins tried to kill the game off. Langford came back as they broke away through Groves down the left and Lee Pateman making strides into the Ely penalty area to convert Groves incoming cross from six yards and claim his first senior goal for the team. All square and all to play for, but the scores only remained level for a further three minutes. A challenge between Joe Delasalle and an Ely forward seemed to warrant a Langford free kick but the decision went against the Reds. The free kick was struck home by Andy Chatters from fully thirty yards past a static Campbell and Ely had regained the lead on the hour. With twenty two minutes left the Robins re-established their two goal advantage a defensive mix up allowing Chatters in with the ball running kindly for Nick Impey to drill home past Campbell from the edge of the area to complete a hat trick. Within two minutes Reds manager introduced new signings Wes Byrne and Rhys Davies to replace Dave Drury and Ricardo Small in an attempt refresh the Reds. Wes Byrne brought out another good save from keeper Catley as he broke through the Robins defense but it was the last chance for Langford as Ely City progressed into the next round where they will face a home tie against Southern League side Woodford United.

On Tuesday evening the Reds start their League campaign with a trip to Welwyn Garden City and then the following Saturday travel to North London to take on one of the sides transferred from last season’s Ryman League in Kingsbury London Tigers. The Tigers merged with last seasons Kingsbury Town to compete in the SSML under a new name.

Fact File

Langford;

Jamie Kyle (Jamie Campbell); Shayne Willett; Dave Drury (Rhys Davies); Joe Delasalle; Dorian Small; Robert Groves; Gareth Grant; Ricardo Small (Wesley Byrne); John Coley; Lee Pateman; Marc Barnes

SUBS NOT USED; Sam Gittings

Ely City;

Tim Cateley; Dean Blackman; Jamie Thurlbourne; Vinnie Long; Brady Stone; Richard Dewsbury; Dave Smith; Simon Warren (Dave Newman) ; Andy Chatters; Nick Impey (Mark Johnson); Martin Westcott (Ben Green)

SUBS NOT USED; James Reeves; Jim Salmons

GOALS

Langford; Marc Barnes (36), Lee Pateman (57)

Ely City;  Nick Impey (12, 24, 68 ), Andy Chatters (60)

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@