College Football: Langwith 1-1 Wentworth

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Photos: Oliver Todd

In a match that proved a slow burner at first, Langwith and Wentworth shared the spoils thanks to a tense second-half battle.

The game started brightly for Langwith, with Danny Mullen providing an effective outlet down the left hand side of midfield for all the early possession. With few clear cut chances for either side, it was no surprise that ineffective long balls began to creep their way into play early on in the half. The game came to life somewhat with a penalty claim for Wentworth on 20 minutes. A bursting run through the middle from Mutlu Curova saw a strong challenge in the box from Matt Wilcox, and Curova went down. The Wentworth players pleaded with the referee, but he waved away the protests almost instantly, much to the displeasure of the Wentworth manager on the sideline.

The penalty claim served as a wake up call to Wentworth, who began to get themselves back into the game through the improving passing game of Rich Rhodes in the centre of midfield, and Samik Datta, on the left wing of a 5 man Wentworth midfield, who caused countless problems for the Langwith defence. It was Rhodes who was to be instrumental in the first real effort on goal, however. He hauled down Langwith captain Andy Hutt on the edge of the box with a tackle that looked more suited to the rugby pitches opposite. Danny Mullen stepped up to take the shot, but drove it straight at Wentworth ‘keeper Dom Green who grasped the ball with ease.

It wasn’t long before Wentworth were to have their first clear-cut chance on goal. A foul by Luke Gardener on the right hand side of the pitch led to free kick by Rhodes that was whipped in to the Langwith box. Tom Cantrell rose to meet the ball but could only watch on as it sailed over the bar. The best of the half was certainly saved until last, though, with Langwith displaying their continuing inability to finish chances that may dog them throughout the season. A great strike from Andy Hutt was only parried by the Wentworth ‘keeper, and it fell to the feet of Kieran Hazell who had the goal at his mercy. He managed to get a shot away, but John Moore threw himself in front of it on the line and cleared superbly. That miss marked the end of a first half that took its time to get going.

It was clear that Wentworth needed to get themselves into the game, and so they did right from the kick off in the second half. More fantastic work from Datta down the left hand side led to a scramble in the box that was eventually smothered by the Langwith ‘keeper as Wentworth continued to exert pressure on the men in yellow. And it was Datta again who was at the heart of the Wentworth attack, beating 4 men with trickery and electrifying pace, only to see his cross whistle wide of the far post. Langwith were next to have an effort in a game that was beginning to look more open. The impressive Matt Jones in central midfield stormed towards the Wentworth box and from 25 yards out unleashed a thundering strike that cannoned off the bar.

The flowing nature of the game continued, with an effort from the Wentworth substitute Falk cleared off the line by Gardener after his pace beat the Langwith defence. The continuous pressure from Wentworth finally told, and the game got its first goal in the 70th minute. A free kick from Rhodes on the right hand side of the box was misjudged by the Langwith defence and Cantrell found himself on his own in the box. The ‘keeper spilled the initial ball, and Cantrell applied a simple finish to make it 1-0 as the defence stood and watched on.

The goal earmarked an immediate change from Hutt, who brought on Tim Seah at right back as he reshuffled his pack. The change proved fruitful, with Bruce Starkey now playing in a more advanced role down the left hand side of the pitch in particular causing problems for a tiring Wentworth side. He was to be instrumental in the equaliser, too. Matt Jones played an outstanding first time ball out wide to Starkey, who burst down the left and played a cross deep into the box. Gardener, who was now operating further right after the introduction of Seah, burst into the box and hit an unstoppable volley into the roof of the goal. 1-1, and with 10 minutes to go both sides fancied their chances. Langwith were the more resurgent of the two, though, and could smell the victory after coming from behind. Matt Jones had a chance inside the box to steal 3 points for Langwith at the death, but Green saved well down to his left, and Starkey burst into the box again late on, only to unselfishly square it into space when he could have taken the shot himself.

In the end, a draw seemed like a fair result for two sides who improved as the game went on. “It felt like a loss”, said Wentworth Captain Rhodes, going on to describe the Langwith goal as “quality”. Langwith captain Andy Hutt feels they “should have won” and acknowledged the “wasteful finishing” his team showed.

Vision MOTM – Samik Datta.