The Molten Spartan South Midlands League, Premier Division, 22.08.2006

Reds success in opener

With both clubs having early F.A. Cup exits there was an added incentive to begin the League campaign with three points. It was a considerably brighter evening than the previous Saturday afternoon and a superb looking Welwyn Garden City greeted the sides. Langford gave debuts to goalkeeper Ben Borman and centre back Dave Cook as injury to Jamie Kyle and Joe Delasalle kept them out of starting line up. The rest of the team remained unchanged from Saturday.

A positive opening from the Citizens saw Deniz Mehmet in the thick of action testing and sometimes winning his battle with the experienced Dave Drury down the Langford left. Mehmet nearly forced the opening score as after waltzing through the Reds back line again he saw his shot saved by Borman legs. Langford responded with a well struck Robert Groves effort that was just over the bar. Lee Pateman also saw his shot saved shortly afterwards. Welwyn continued to press for the opener and Alex Kinsey flashed a right footed effort over the bar from a tight angle on the left. The game began to swing back towards the Reds and they started to retain possession with a series of passing movements that eventually led to good chances for Wesley Byrne and Lee Pateman. As sometimes happens in football a missed chance at one end leads to a goal at the other. Denis Mehmet saw his goal bound cleared off the line by Dorian Small. The ball being swiftly cleared to Robert Groves who in turn put Wesley Byrne in on goal and the new Langford signing made no mistake in beating the oncoming Simon Bartley to open his account for the club with the Reds opener. For the next fifthteen minutes the game was evenly spread out. Eight minutes before the break the Citizens pulled level. With the home side pushing forward Langford backed off allowing Danny Fitzpatrick to fizz in a shot through a crowd of players from the edge of the area which may have left keeper Borman slightly unsighted. Mehmet came close to giving the home side the lead as he outpaced Drury and flashed a shot across the face of goal that only needed a touch that wasn’t forthcoming. Three minutes remained of the half when the Reds regained the lead forcing a corner of the Welwyn right. The ball was pinged into the area from Gareth Grant and was met by a positive header from Ricardo Small in the six yard box. So Langford took a winning lead into the break which had seen both sides play an open and entertaining game.

The second half saw a Langford side subdued by the Citizens efforts for an equalizer. The home side pressed but chances were few and far between and as the home side pushed forward Langford were finding more space on the break. Marc Barnes in particular may feel he could and should have done better with a couple of chances that came his way. John Coley replaced Lee Pateman for the last half hour and he and Wes Byrne kept the home defence on their toes! In a game that was generally played in a good spirit only a couple of bookings for the referee’s note book, Citizens, Anthony Beamish for a foul on John Coley and the Reds Marc Barnes for an over enthusiastic challenge when chasing back after loosing possession.

Manager Roy Boon and his assistant Hendy Manning were highly pleased with the result and the way it was achieved and will be looking for more of the same on Saturday when they visit Kingsbury London Tigers on Saturday. The following Tuesday it’s local derby time as the Reds take on Biggleswade United at Second Meadow, kick off 745pm.

Fact File

Langford;

Ben Borman; Shayne Willett; Dave Drury; Dave Cook; Dorian Small; Gareth Grant; Marc Barnes Ricardo Small; Wesley Byrne; Lee Pateman; (John Coley); Robert Groves,

SUBS NOT USED; Sam Gittings, Joe Delasalle, Rhys Davies, Jamie Campbell

Welwyn Garden City;

Simon Bartley; Nathan Dawes (Craig Mckay); James Cole; Neil Yates; Anthony Beamish; Andy Saul; Deniz Mehmet (Matt McArdle); Len Benmore; Dave Butler (Dan Griggs); Alex Kinsey; Danny Fitzpatrick;

SUBS NOT USED; Dan Teixeira, Eric Gbio

GOALS

Langford; Wesley Byrne (23), Ricardo Small (42)

Welwyn Garden City; Danny Fitzpatrick (37)