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Photos: Tom Wooldridge
Halifax 3rds extended their college cup winning streak to three in today’s late kick off. Their opponents, Langwith 2nds, failed to build on their previous win against Wentworth 1sts in a sloppy display.
The match started scrappily with no team able to stamp their authority on the game, but a corner from the right gave Halifax the lead early on. Miscommunication in the Langwith defence allowed Luke Stevenson a free header, and he made no mistake with the finish. Keeper Olly Williamson may have been at fault for the goal but he redeemed himself moments later when he stretched superbly to palm a long range effort round the post.
Halifax created more, and kept the ball better for the remainder of the first half. Solomon Sango shot straight at Williamson from close range, and Kieran Gennoy also fired straight at Williamson’s chest from distance.
Langwith’s brightest moments in the first half came from James Macdonald, as he flashed a shot just over the crossbar, and wasted an opportunity to level just before halftime. A mistake in the Halifax defence put him through on goal but his attempted lob was held by the onrushing Shin Murata. Murata had a commanding game, despite his small stature he claimed several opposition set pieces and was assured throughout.
Langwith were made to pay for their sloppiness, when moments later a Kieran Gennoy cross was headed by Stevenson for his and Halifax’s second. There was a question of Stevenson being offside but the referee allowed it to stand. It gave Halifax a bit of breathing space as the half time whistle sounded.
The weather understandably affected the players intensity in the second half. Both teams were untidy in possession but Halifax still had the best opportunities. Ben Smith had two excellent opportunities to extend their lead but couldn’t apply a clinical finish. He was played through on the left but slid the ball wide from a tight angle and it eventually went out for a throw. The next opportunity was easier, when he went past Williamson but somehow fired wide with an open goal beckoning.
Langwith’s opportunities were sparse, but they scored with the last kick of the game. The ball fell to James Macdonald 18 yards out and he made no mistake with the finish, a half volley into the bottom left corner of the goal. A stylish finish in an otherwise lacklustre Langwith display.
After the game Langwith captain Craig Burnell had this to say, ‘It was a poor performance, we didn’t seem up for it after two really good games and we were sloppy. But we have to look forward now and improve.’
Halifax 3rds captain Andrew Wallace was more positive, ‘We were convincing in the first half, the heat affected both of us in the second half, but there were glimpses of quality football and there is more to come.’
Vision MOTM: Kieran Gennoy