Nouse.co.uk » Langwith heroics derail Goodricke’s title push

Langwith heroics derail Goodricke’s title push

November 22, 2009
Adam Shergold

Photograph by Justyn Hardcastle

LANGWITH COLLEGE 2
GOODRICKE COLLEGE 1

Sunday 22nd November

Goodricke’s title aspirations were dealt a massive blow on Sunday as a heroic defensive performance from Langwith created a College Football shock. Matt Robinson, the Langwith goalkeeper, made save after save to frustrate Goodricke, who were guilty of profligate finishing throughout and ultimately paid the price as Halifax stretched their lead at the top of the standings.

Goals from Tommy Chrimes and Bruce Starkey, the striker who played the first-half in goal because of latecomers and absentees, either side of the interval put Langwith firmly in control against all expectations. Despite Dave Coupland’s second-half header, Goodricke failed to find a clear route back into the game and were thwarted in the last twenty minutes by a monumental defensive effort.

With Halifax doing the business with a 3-1 victory against Wentworth, Goodricke now trail the leaders by three points and need to respond in next Sunday’s fixture with misfiring James. Derwent sit two points behind Halifax following their 3-3 draw with Alcuin.

The sight of Langwith players frantically making phone calls to round up errant players prior to kick-off didn’t bode well, particularly with Goodricke welcoming Adam Leadbeater back into their midfield following an injury lay-off and entering the match high on confidence following last week’s thrilling comeback against Derwent.

The tussle between Jez Hann (right) and Dave Coupland was an intriguing feature of Sunday’s match. Photograph by Justyn Hardcastle.

As the stragglers slowly took to the field for the yellows, it was little surprise that Goodricke bossed the early exchanges. Sam Lewis was denied in a one-on-one contest by ‘keeper Starkey on three minutes, before Eddie Silson was played through by Lewis, the right-winger, only for his touch to desert him.

Goodricke were finding plenty of space in which to operate, the battle between Coupland and the indefatigable Jez Hann on the left-wing quickly becoming a focus of attention. Chris Macklin exposed these defensive frailties when rising unmarked to head a corner against the crossbar. However, this would prove to be the last mistake, the back four playing the remainder of the game like men possessed.

Soon, they had something to defend. On 33 minutes, Paddy Sloane unleashed an effort from the corner of the penalty area which Ed Foster, the Goodricke goalkeeper, could only parry into the path of Chrimes, leaving a straightforward finish.

Chrimes would force Foster into evasive action on the stroke of half-time, while Macklin was also at the centre of a handball appeal. At the other end, Ben Smith, so effective in Goodricke’s attack last week, was looking out of sorts and he fired wide when well-positioned ten yards out.

Leadbeater, the Captain, demanded improvement as the second-half started but his side were again caught out. Starkey, who bagged a hat-trick in Langwith’s 6-0 rout of Wentworth last time out, had relinquished his goalkeeping duties and took his rightful place alongside Sloane up front. It took him just five minutes to make an impact: collecting a well-weighted through ball, he shook off defensive attentions and finished low and calmly from ten yards for 2-0.

Adam Leadbeater, the Goodricke Captain, hunts down the ball during his side’s 2-1 defeat against Langwith on Sunday. Photograph by Peter Iveson.

Even for Goodricke, past masters at coming back from the dead in matches, this looked like a tall order. Nonetheless, they dominated from this point on, forcing Langwith to draw on every last reserve of energy – particularly in the absence of substitutes – and every scrap of defensive nous to keep them at bay.

Smith flashed a low effort across the goalmouth, while Dan York coaxed Robinson into a block at his near post as Goodricke turned the screw. A goal was imminent and it arrived when Coupland was left with the simplest of headers at the back post after a high, looping corner foxed the Langwith rearguard.

It was one-way traffic by this juncture, Langwith resisting the waves of attack with grit and courage. Coupland burst through, only for Robinson to smother the ball on the floor and, moment later, the stopper blocked Smith’s snapshot with his knees.

In contrast to the first-half, where all their best thrusts were concentrated down the left-wing, Goodricke were surging forward down both flanks, with Lewis increasingly in the game. However, the deliveries were often blocked, or just lacking accuracy and the threat of Leadbeater and Barker through the centre was scandalously underemployed.

Only a touch was required when York drilled across goal once again and Robinson produced probably his best save to rebuff Coupland’s tester. As time ebbed away, the unthinkable nearly happened as Sloane weaved his way from the half-way line to the penalty box, only to finish poorly in a one-on-one situation with his strike partner Starkey on hand.

The ecstatic reaction to the final whistle in the Langwith camp spoke volumes about the nature of their victory. They had been stretched to their limit, besieged and battered for the entire second-half, yet, through sheer force of will had somehow prevailed. Goodricke gave everything and lacked just a clinical touch to take the game beyond their opponents. They will now look to respond and get their title challenge back on track against James next Sunday.

Sunday 29th November: Goodricke vs. James; Langwith vs. Vanbrugh (11am, 22 Acres)