The Molten Spartan South Midlands League, Premier Division, 02.09.2006

After Tuesday night’s second half mauling at Biggleswade United this game was going to be interesting to see how Roy Boon’s side would respond. The Manager himself responded by several team changes. Dan Eely made his debut in goal, Dorian and Ricardo Small returned after missing Tuesday night and in came Adam Pitcairn for his Langford debut. One enforced change was a change in the forward line where Lee Pateman and Mark Barnes were given the responsibility for the holidaying Wesley Byrne and John Coley was rested to the bench.

Garden Walk at Royston presented the teams with a cloudy but dry afternoon but the stiff wind was to make the game difficult for both sides. Langford had the advantage of the wind in the first half and opened positively. The Reds took a match winning lead as early as the fourth minute when Robert Groves took a short corner to Gareth Grant. The pair interchanged passes before Grant sent in a tentative shot from the edge of the area that beat the keeper at the near post. From then on Langford continued to press with Groves, Barnes and Grant coming close to give Langford a commanding lead in the first half hour. Royston were restricted in attacking forays and the long throw-ins from Snowden at times seem the only option they could offer. More of the same from Langford in the closing stages as Barnes and Delasalle combined on the right to set up a chance for Pateman but Crow’s keeper Asuo produced a fine save. Robert Groves came closest though as a good build up gave him a shooting opportunity that beat the goalkeeper but struck the post.

The second half began with Royston bringing on Chris Geldart and Dave McMurrough with Kingsley Amankwah and Cedric Efoma seeing their afternoon playing time cut short.

Langford continued to make chances but the game was more of an even affair with Royston prepared to shoot on sight with the advantage of the wind. Unfortunately for the Crows most efforts were off target. For the visitors Ricardo Small saw his shot deflected for a corner and than a header from Joe Delasalle produced another good save from Asuo. Pateman and Groves worked well down the Royston left and in the best move of the day the pair set up a chance for Marc Barnes that saw an excellent challenge deny the Reds forward a scoring chance. For the last half hour Royston shaded the game as Langford went off the boil. Even so goal scoring opportunities were at a premium for both sides and the game ended with a narrow 1-0 win for the Reds.

The win moved Langford into second place in the early season table but more consistency over the ninety minutes will be needed in future games if the Reds are to continue their good start to the season. On Tuesday evening the Reds travel to HertfordTown who are just two points behind the Reds fourth place. Another way game next Saturday will see Langford on the road to Aylesbury Vale, who after a good opening game win against Tring Athletic have failed in their attempt to win their next three games. All tough tests for the Reds as their enforced exile from FordePark continues.

Dan Eely; Dave Drury; Dave Cook; Joe Delasalle; Dave Cook; Dorian Small; Ricardo Small; Marc Barnes (Jim Bywater); Gareth Grant; Robert Groves Lee Pateman; Adam Pitcairn (Andy Pilgrim).

RoystonTown;

Desmond Asuo; Laurence Revell; Ryan Cannon; Stuart Snowden; Allan Reid; Cedric Efoma (Chris Geldhart): Jason Nash; Carl Edwards; Ely Kitange; Kingsley Amankwah (Dave McMurrogh); Kojo Ofori (Emmanuel Adubofuar).

SUBS NOT USED; James Moule, Marcus Nicholls

Langford; Gareth Grant (4)

RoystonTown; none