Langford     (1)    4     Robert Groves (28p, 70), Ricky Case (52), Mark Barnes (85)
Wootton Blue Cross    (2)    3     Craig Daniel ( 7, 31, 55)

Langford and Wootton Blue Cross served up a superb night of entertaining cup football in this North Beds Charity Cup first round tie. Following from last season’s four all draw with Wootton going through on Penalties. The Reds needed just ninety minutes to clinch a place in the next round, coming back three times from behind to take the tie by the odd goal in seven.

Wootton took the first half advantage of the strong wind blowing down the pitch from the club house end. After a long range effort from the visitors that whistled high over the bar, the Reds pushed forward and threatened to take an early lead. It was therefore against the run of play when the wind assisted a clearance and released Craig Daniels to successfully take on and beat the last defender with his run and shot past Dan Eely seeming to catch the Reds custodian cold. Langford again moved positively forward with Mark Barnes wriggling free of his marker and unselfishly trying to set up Lee Pateman instead of trying his luck with a shot, the Wootton defense clearing the danger.  Ricky Case then brought a good save out of Wootton’s goalkeeper Atkins with a near post header from a right cross. The visitors nearly gained a two goal advantage as Wootton’s exciting young prospect Craig Daniels beat Wayne Smith in the tackle, then getting his shot away that Eely saved. Lee Pateman and Mark Barnes worked hard to keep the pressure on the physically stronger Wootton back line. Dan Eely was called into action again, denying Leon Cashman as he worked a narrow angled shot from the Langford left. The equaliser came on twenty eight minutes with the Reds forcing a corner and from the resulting kick Lee Pateman was bundled into inside the area and Robert Groves smashed home the spot kick to join Pateman as Reds leading marksman for the season.  Wootton wasted little time in regaining the advantage with Craig Daniels shot from distance catching a gust of wind giving Eely little chance of the save. Dorian Small was booked for a foul giving Wootton a free kick in a dangerous position but Langford managed to clear the dead ball kick. Another wind assisted goal kick from Atkins put in Darek Jozwiak inside the area but an alert Eely was quickly off his line to block his effort. A collision between Leon Cashman and Dan Eely left the Reds keeper needing treatment. The half ended with a rampant Reds holding the advantage of play with some excellent attacking football and Gareth Grant was inches away from Ross Scotney’s left wing cross that would have sent the teams in level at half time.

For the start of the second half Edward Winsor replaced Dan Eely between the sticks as Eely could not continue after his first half collision with Cashman. Langford opened the half much in the same vein as they finished the first and thought they had claimed an early equaliser as keeper Atkins juggled to control the ball on his line but it was adjudged that he had kept it out. It took seven minutes for Langford to get back on terms with Gareth Grant playing in Ricky Case on the left of the area and he produced a confident finish for his first senior goal for the club. As in the first half Wootton responded quickly and took the lead again when the Reds defense failed to clear their area. The ball finding Craig Daniels who fired home from just inside the box to complete his hat trick.  Darek Jozwiak then had the chance to possibly seal the game for the visitors but blazed over from ten yards out. With twenty minutes remaining a disputed free kick that saw visitors’ Paul Reynolds enter the referee’s note book was awarded just outside the Wootton area. Robert Groves then fired home an unstoppable left footed effort that brought the Reds back into the game again. A spectacular scissor kick from Chris Hewitt on the edge of the Langford area came so close to giving Wootton the lead again. It was Langford that was going to have the last goal scoring say in this exciting contest. Ricky Case collecting the ball in midfield and putting in a weighted pass to give Mark Barnes a one on one with Atkins that he accepted to seal the game.  Wootton threw everything forward to try and take the game into extra time but the Reds were in no mood to relinquish there hard earned lead and defended tigerishly with Wootton efforts. In fact a quick breaking movement involving Case, Pateman and substitute Ricky Small set up Robert Groves but this time he couldn’t get his shot right and the chance for his hat trick went begging.

Langford’s reward for this hard worked win will be an away semi final with either holder’s Potton United or Arlesey Athletic.

There was one thing missing from Forde Park last night as the weekend’s stormy weather finally laid to rest the remaining stand from the ground leaving it “a bit parky” in last night’s game. Hopefully though the new stand will be returned just after Christmas from it’s return to the manufacturers for modification. It is therefore recommended that anybody attending Forde Park for games prior to that date bring the necessary items to stay dry and warm!  

Langford return to Forde Park next Saturday when Holmer Green visit for a League game. There is no midweek game scheduled for the week after before the visit to high flying Edgware Town on Saturday the 16^th.

Langford; Dan Eely (Edward Winsor), Ricky Case; Ross Scotney; Dorian Small; Wayne Smith; Shayne Willett; Adam Pitcairn; Gareth Grant; Lee Pateman; Mark Barnes ( Ricky Small) ; Robert Groves;

Subs not used ; Jim Bywater, Mark Whittaker, Andy Pilgrim

Wootton Blue Cross;  Atkins, Hole, Lawrence, Reynolds, McFarlane, Hoggett, Mcgregor, Jozwiak, Daniel, Hewitt ( Elliott) , Cashman (George).