Wentworth hit for six as Langwith find top gear
Photograph by Justyn Hardcastle
LANGWITH COLLEGE 6
WENTWORTH COLLEGE 0
Sunday 15th November
A superb hat-trick from Langwith skipper Bruce Starkey condemned Wentworth to a 6-0 drubbing this morning on matchday three of the College Football League. Starkey finished clinically whenever presented with an opportunity and completed his hat-trick within 40 minutes to give his side a 3-0 lead at the break.
With Wentworth chasing the game in the second-half Langwith had little difficulty in finding the net on three more occasions. Langwith were thankful for Starkey’s first-half heroics because Wentworth didn’t play as badly as the result suggests and had they taken some early chances they game may have been very different.
It was Wentworth, buoyed by their performance against Vanbrugh last time out, who had the better of the early exchanges and in the opening two minutes Dave Worsley really should have fired his side in front but he hit straight at the ‘keeper. They continued their good start as Seamus Kent’s free-kick was tipped over and moments later another Kent free-kick, this time from near his own half, nearly deceived everyone by bouncing in. Kent started impressively for Wentworth, enjoying the ball at his feet wide on the right and whipping in some good balls when the opportunity arose.
Goalmouth action from Langwith’s 6-0 win over Wentworth today. Photograph by Justyn Hardcastle.
Against the run of the play, however, it was Langwith who went in front and it was that man Starkey who grabbed the goal. Drifting off his marker at the back post he finished neatly, a clinical finish from a man in form; his second hat-trick in two days. Langwith pressed on now in search of a second and they didn’t have to wait long, again it was Starkey but this time the goal was an absolute cracker. From 25-yards out he unleashed an Exocet that flew into the top corner of Wentworth’s net and Langwith, having been on the wrong side of a 6-1 last weekend, were suddenly well in the ascendancy.
Despite conceding two goals back to back Wentworth fought hard for a way back into the match. Worsley and Kitson were combining very nicely up front and both could have scored had they been able to get on the end of each other’s crosses, Andy Suggitt was running himself into the ground in midfield in an attempt to inspire a comeback and Samik Datta was his usual slippery self on the wing, causing problems with his pace and movement. They were perhaps hamstrung by the fact their coach, Dan Horsfall, was forced to referee in the absence of anyone else. Horsfall had a fine game as the man in black but perhaps his side missed his Fergie-esque touchline assistance.
Langwith recovered superbly from their 6-1 mauling at the hands of Derwent last week to score half-a-dozen of their own today. Photograph by Justyn Hardcastle.
Despite Wentworth’s pressing it was Langwith who got the next goal and it was the third of Starkey’s hat-trick, this time volleying in with his left foot from the edge of the area – another superb goal. If the game was over nobody had thought to tell Wentworth as they continued to press forward. Only a great tackle by Liam Condron prevented Worsley from getting clean through and Kitson netted only to see he had been rightly adjudged offside. There was still time for Suggitt to fire just over following great work from Worsley.
Ten minutes into the second-half and it was 4-0. This time Starkey turned provider, crossing for Danny Mullen to net his first of the season. At this point, Wentworth changed tactics to try and instigate a minor miracle. Matt Glover was introduced and they switched to 3-4-3. The change was needed and it nearly brought about immediate results but Suggitt was just wide following a cross from Datta. Wentworth then found themselves stretched and the indefatigable Jez Hann on the right of Langwith’s midfield was able to extend the lead to 5-0. Seemingly stuck in the corner a delightful piece of skill took him past two players and he finished it off at the near post, although Wentworth’s keeper will feel he could have done better.
Langwith face a tough test next Sunday against table-topping Goodricke. Photograph by Justyn Hardcastle.
With Wentworth still streaming forward in search of a consolation there was still time for Condron to make it six for Langwith. A corner was floated in from the left and Condron got enough on it to send it past the Wentworth stopper, the defender wheeled away in obvious delight as if the goal had been of Van Basten quality, but the defender’s solid performance warranted reward and nobody would have begrudged him a goal. Plucky Wentworth continued to press but nothing was going for them and the final whistle was blown with the score at 6-0.
Wentworth will feel crushed following their much improved start to the season, coach Horsfall describing the result as “sickening” and they will be keen to get back on track next weekend. Langwith, on the other hand, will be overjoyed. They were strong all over the pitch and although they probably weren’t six goals better than Wentworth they did put in a good performance that bodes well for their efforts this season. Horsfall summed it up by declaring that “Langwith were up for it, they deserved it, their skipper Bruce (Starkey) was immense” and it must go down as Starkey’s day as he inspired his side to a fantastic performance.
Sunday 22nd November: Wentworth vs. Halifax; Langwith vs. Goodricke (11am, 22 Acres)
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