Silencing the doubters, Langwith were able to record their first win of the campaign with a fantastic performance against a Halifax side who struggled to make inroads into a stern opposition defence.
The game started dreadfully for the men in yellow, however, as a probing cross from Halifax winger Hamish Denham was put through his own net by the unfortunate Sam Morley after just a couple of minutes.
Langwith were not disheartened, though, and both Andy Hutt and Jan Schick had attempts on goal soon after. Their hard work was rewarded when Callum Sheridan hit a sweet long range effort that evaded Halifax goalkeeper Jonny Sim’s grasp to level matters.
Langwith had little time to celebrate as Halifax immediately threatened to take the lead once again, with Dan Jones instrumental. He somehow evaded the challenges of two Langwith players down the left with a jinking run, intelligently pulling the ball back, only for striker Conor Meckin to blaze over the woodwork when he probably should have done better.
Yet Halifax were struggling to break down a stubborn Langwith side and it was the underdogs who had the chance to take the lead just before half-time. The impressive Bruce Starkey swung in a ball from the left causing all sorts of problems in the Halifax box, but Hutt could not get the necessary touch and Sim gratefully clutched the ball.
Halifax were the first to threaten after the interval with Denham just heading over from a corner. However, their profligacy was punished as they succumbed to the spectacular. Captain, Andy Hutt, playing in an unfamiliar forward role, received the ball just outside the box and with his back to goal managed to turn the defender and hit an unstoppable curling effort that sailed over Sim to earn his team the lead.
The men in white reacted instantly, but Elliot Ragan’s stinging shot was kept out comfortably by ‘keeper Kris Cheshire. Hamish Denham’s long throws were Halifax’s biggest threat but Langwith were admirable in their tireless closing down and continued propensity to attack.
Bruce Starkey was continually giving Halifax right-back Jamie Dorricott problems, and Langwith’s midfield trio of Schick, Sheridan and Stuart Cotterill were vital in breaking up play and beginning attacks. A clever ball from Cotterill sent Starkey on his way and he forced Sim into making a superb one-handed safe low to his right.
Cotterill was again involved as he set up a chance for Hutt, but the latter was just unable to get on the end of it. Halifax were getting desperate now and frustration was evident as Langwith full-back Luke Gardner intercepted Denham’s pass for skipper Jack Beadle, to quash another attack. A promising ball was played through to Ragan as the clock counted down, but with pressure from centre-half Morley, he could only blaze over.
The final whistle confirmed an impressive victory for Langwith, and captain Andy Hutt was absolutely delighted with his team’s performance, commenting that “everything has come together this week with wins for both the first and second team, and now we can look forward to next week’s game against Vanbrugh.”
His Halifax counterpart was less upbeat bemoaning the fact that his side “showed in spells today what we can do, but we have to be able to display that over 90 minutes.” Beadle refused to get too down, though, promising that his side would “come back stronger.”
MOTM: Bruce Starkey.