Grant goal grabs point for Reds

Langford and Colney Heath renewed their League meetings after a period of two seasons apart with last season’s Division One Champions visit to Forde Park. The Reds team sheet showed three changes from Tuesday’s Senior Cup exit at Stotfold. Dan Eely returned between the sticks in place of Edward Winsor. Defensive changes also saw Shayne Willett and Jack Gregson places taken by Kevin Patterson and Danny Bennett.

As in most games this season the Reds began in positive fashion with Lee Pateman forcing visiting goalkeeper Gary Statham into saving with his legs to deny him a first minute opener. The Magpies soon responded as “in-form” Jake Parratt got the better of Danny Bennett but was unable to add to his recent scoring spree as he fired wide. Langford did get the early opener they wanted in the seventh minute with Gareth Grant interception in midfield then turned into a pass for Lee Pateman to beat two defenders before striking past advancing keeper Statham. Joe Delasalle came close to his second goal of the week as he got his head to a Robert Groves free kick that forced Statham into a good save. The lead was only held until the twentieth minute when a Dan Eely clearance was headed straight back past a square defence. A little late off his line the Langford custodian missed his clearance against the on coming Jack Parratt and he gratefully accepted the chance to equalise into an empty net. There were chances for Langford to regain the lead with Pateman missing a good opportunity before having a goal disallowed for offside near to break.

Langford were forced to regroup in the second half as already having substituted Danny Bennett in the twenty fifth minute with Russell Bull, an injury to Dorian Small saw Mark Barnes enter the fray at the start of the half. Matt Chalkley nearly took advantage of these changes for the Magpies but headed wide. Substitute Russell Bull broke away down the right and his ball into the box beat everybody before striking the foot of the far post. In a better second half for both sides Magpies, Neil Doctor fired over after making space for the shot. The visitors pressured and gained a free kick on the edge of the area after seeing that blocked another foul gave the Magpies a second chance from a similar position this time former Colney Heath manager Craig Johnstone bent the free kick around the wall and gave Eely little chance of the save. So with fifteen minutes left the Reds recent good home record looked in danger. Another chance for Lee Pateman when through wasn’t taken and Matt Chalkley nearly extended the Magpies lead but was denied by Eely’s save. With just four minutes remaining the Reds got back on terms. Lee Pateman combined with Langford substitute and first team debutant Mark Whittaker to set up Gareth Grant to fire home from fifteen yards. There were still chances to win the game for Langford with the best falling for Robert Groves, who on collecting keeper Statham’s clearance and clipped a left footed effort back over the stranded keeper only to see the ball go past the post.

Langford; Dan Eely, Ricky Case (Mark Whittaker); Dorian Small (Mark Barnes); Danny Bennett (Russell Bull); Kevin Patterson Joe Delasalle; Adam Pitcairn; Gareth Grant; Lee Pateman; Jim Bywater; Robert Groves