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Photos: Oliver Todd
Goodricke and Langwith shared the spoils in a scrappy encounter on the JLD, confirming Langwith’s exit from the College Cup.
In the 2pm kick-off, Wentworth were held 1-1 by James 3rds which meant a win for Langwith would have sent them into the Plate along with Goodricke.
After 17 minutes it looked as though this target would be achieved when Will Prescott pounced on a Goodricke mistake to give his side the lead.
But seconds later Goodricke equalised thanks to Sam Astubury’s header from Rob Young’s searching free kick.
With Wentworth only managing a draw, Goodricke knew they would at least be playing in the Plate next week, but they could not find a winner which would have sent them top, temporarily at least, and challenging for Cup qualification.
Unfortunately, the match rarely had any fluency and was a rather attritional contest, even after the two goals in quick succession, as both teams appeared afraid to take the initiative.
Langwith began the better of the two sides and threatened on several occasions thanks to Will Prescott’s long throw-ins, but Astbury in particular at the back was defending well.
Meanwhile, Joe Mann looked Goodricke’s most fruitful outlet down the left, but he was well marshalled by the Langwith defence who offered him little room for manoeuvre.
Neither ‘keeper had much to worry about until Langwith’s opener, but Goodricke will be disappointed at conceding such a sloppy goal.
Losing possession just outside the area straight from a goal kick, Goodricke allowed Will Prescott time and space to pick his spot and drill a low finish inside Tom Neill’s near post.
The lead was a priceless one, but the plans for a Plate party were ruthlessly cancelled inside a minute.
Rob Young’s free kick wide on the left was purposely delivered to the far post where Astbury climbed highest and headed a magnificent looping header over Ollie Williams back across goal and into the net.
The two goals briefly set the match, which had been a rather dull affair until this point, alight with energy but neither side could grab the lead before the half time whistle.
Langwith came out for the second half looking for revenge, but Prescott’s long throws did not reap any rewards as MacDonald headed wide soon after the restart.
Goodricke kept the ball better despite not creating any clear cut chances, and Sam Cottingham’s speculative looping volley from distance summed up their threat as the game petered out towards a tepid draw.
Langwith had the game’s last half-chance when an off-balance Danny Mullen top-poked a MacDonald header over the bar from close range, as any hopes for a Plate position diminished.
Afterwards, Goodricke captain Tom Neill said: “We never really got going, but we will take confidence going into the Plate, I think we’ll go far.”
Langwith’s Georgi Georgiev commented: “It was a really good performance today, we went for it but were unlucky with the final result.”
Vision MOTM: Sam Astbury