Second half revival can’t save Reds from defeat

A first League game of the season at FordePark following the home opener and disappointing F.A. Vase exit the previous Saturday. The side showed only one change with Joe Delasalle replacing Shayne Willett in the defence. For the Reds it was only a determined and improved second half performance that regained some pride from the shambolic and lethargic effort of a first half that saw the visitors 4-0 ahead at the interval.

John Coley and Robert Groves came close to giving the Reds an opening goal in the first ten minutes but neither effort forced visiting goalkeeper Williamson into a save. It wasn’t long though before the visitors started to make inroads through midfield and into some dangerous areas for the home side. A good run down the right ended with a shot by Gazmond Dauti that was blocked for a corner and a short time afterwards Dan Eely did well to push over a header as the pressure mounted. The opening goal followed a cross from the Langford right that saw Emiel Aitken given a free header to head home from eight yards with nineteen minutes played. The home side was struggling to cope with a visiting side that had some powerful running players from midfield positions and didn’t help the cause with some careless passing that put them under even more pressure. Small was booked following deliberate hand ball and was lucky not to have been dismissed later in the game as he kicked the ball away following an award of a free kick.

Eely was called into action again as he palmed over a well struck free kick from James Osbourne from twenty-five yards. A second goal was on the cards and unfortunately it came from a Langford defender as he deflected Norman’s shot past Eely for an own goal. Just after the half hour mark John Coley joined Dorian Small in the referee’s notebook after a confrontation involving a number of players, no Broxbourne players were reprimanded however. As the half drew to a close Broxbourne turned the screw, Danny Ward flashed a shot just wide and in the final minute Adam Norman scored with a low header following another Gazmond Dauti cross to kill the game and within seconds Lee Newman buried it as he drove in from 22 yards. The Reds supporters were shell shocked and disappointed as the game was discussed over a half time cuppa.

Harsh words from the management at half time and a much better performance in the second period. Jim Bywater replaced John Coley at half time and caused the visitors a lot of problems down the left hand side. It was the home side that had DanEely to thank for an excellent double save that prevented Broxbourne from pulling away even further. As the Reds started to play Williamson denied Byrne by pushing his effort around the post. Pushing forward left the chance of a visitors’ breakaway but it was Eely to the rescue again as he held onto Aitken’s low cross that would have created a simple tap-in for his team mates in a 4 on 2 break. Ten minutes into the second half the combination of Bywater and Byrne fashioned the Reds first goal as Byrne was brought down in the area and up stepped Robert Groves to fire home his eighth of the season in emphatic style. The game was much more in the Reds favour now and the visitors were forced into sometimes desperate defending to keep a revitalised Langford attack at bay with Lee Pateman , Wes Byrne and Jim Bywater all coming close but unable to break through. It wasn’t all one way traffic though and Dan Eely proved his worth with a series of excellent saves. Substitutions were made by both sides and the introduction by the Reds of Wayne Smith seemed to stiffen up the midfield considerably. Langford made Broxbourne work to the bitter end and Barnes forced a spectacular save from Williamson. The Reds were finally rewarded from the resulting corner as Adam Pitcairn scored his first senior goal for the Reds. Time ran out and final deficit of two goals proved just too much. A much improved second half performance must however be taken forward into Saturday’s game at FordePark when unbeaten Leverstock Green will be the visitors. On the following Tuesday evening the Reds will be in action at SSML Division One side Sun Postal Sports in the next round of the SSML Challenge Trophy.

Dan Eely; Joe Delasalle; Dave Drury (Wayne Smith); Dorian Small; Dave Cook (Dave Ralph); Adam Pitcairn; Marc Barnes; Adam Pitcairn; Lee Pateman; John Coley (Jim Bywater); Wesley Byrne; Robert Groves

Glen Williamson; Gary Taylor; Rob Kemble; Carlo Casali; Ross Edwards; Adam Norman; Gazmond Dauti (Sarfraz Pivano); James Osbourne (Darly Mitchell); Danny Ward; Lee Newman (Andrew Francos); Emiel Aitken;

SUBS NOT USED; Paul Wright, Okpako Blessing

Langford; Robert Groves (55 pen), Adam Pitcairn (89)

Broxbourne Borough ; Emiel Aitken (19), o.g. (25), Adam Norman (44), Lee Newman (45)