College Football: Goodricke 2-0 Langwith

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Photos: Tom Wooldridge

Goals from Matt Thomas and Sam Lewis helped Goodricke sweep aside a lacklustre Langwith to record their only win of the term.

Having not scored once this term, Goodricke knew they had to improve from the disappointing defeat against Wentworth two weeks ago as well as the 2-0 loss to Halifax before that.

And they did just that, controlling the play for almost the entire 90 minutes, taking their chances when they arose and restricting Langwith to only a couple of opporunities throughout.

The weather was undoubtedly the best it has been all term for the college football scene, as warm sunshine and a slight breeze provided the perfect conditions for the players.

It was Goodricke who started the brighter side, as Christian Hammer headed over from a Luke Inness corner after three mintues.

Inness then cultivated a fantastic cross-field pass from right to left with Matt Whelan lurking at the back post. Thomas let the ball bounce once before smashing a sensational right-footed volley at knee height which flew just wide of Cheshire’s far post.

Langwith were struggling to break out but had probably the best chance after 15 minutes. Andy Hutt flicked the ball on through a crowd of players on the edge of the area, allowing Matt Jones to swivel and shoot straight at Foster. Anywhere else and Langwith would surely have taken the lead.

Soon after, Inness whipped in another dangerous cross which Cheshire flapped at, but Sharpe could not turn fast enough in the six-yard box to get his shot off, and the chance evaporated.

Just before half time, Goodricke took the lead with a slice of luck. Matt Thomas collected the ball 20 yards out before leathering a shot at goal. The ball took a slight deflection off Sam Morley’s boot, which wrong-footed Cheshire, and it flew in off his right-hand post.

The shot would have probably been food and drink for Cheshire without the deflection but Goodricke’s positive play meant they were deserving leaders at the break.

Goodricke then doubled their lead four minutes into the second half, but this time poor defending from Langwith was to blame.

Cottingham floated in an inswinging corner which Sam Lewis headed in at the near post, totally unmarked. It was a disappointing time to switch off for Langwith, who had defended reasonably well up until this point.

The rest of the match was a somewhat scrappy affair as both sets of players tired in unusually warm conditions.

Langwith had a great chance to halve the deficit, but Luke Holbrook amazingy failed to connect with a header from four yards out. Every one of his teammates held heads in hands.

Substitute Tom Rudden was added to Langwith’s attacking force towards the end, and he had two half-chances. The first came from a Wilcox free kick from the left which he couldn’t connect with, and the second was a shot from a tight angle which Foster comfortably saved.

Aside from this, Goodricke held onto their lead comfortably and captain Chrisitan Hammer was pleased with the day’s work: “We was quite lucky today with the game being rearranged to a Saturday because we had better conditions. This was the best side we’ve had all term, and the way we were knocking it around shows we’re in good shape for the college cup.”

Langwith captain Andy Hutt said his team needed to improve: “We conceded two sloppy goals and had a lot of half chances, but we needed more composure in front of goal.”

Vision MOTM: Matt Thomas