A wonderful strike by Chris Osborne helped Goodricke 2nds to a 2-1 victory over Langwith 1sts this afternoon, which in turn booked their place in the final of the vase. Osborne’s 25 yard first time volley whistled into the top corner, in what was surely the goal of the tournament, handing Goodricke a 2-0 lead, which Langwith were unable to overturn.
Both sides had numerous chances in a game that started sloppily, but sprung into life as time progressed, and either side could have emerged as deserving winners in an entertaining affair. The first 15 minutes though were insipid, with the most notable event occurring in the second minute, when Goodricke ‘keeper Noel Rogers appeared to handle the ball outside of his area. The offence could well have warranted a straight red as it denied a clear goalscoring opportunity, but the protests were waved away by referee Joe Lawton.
After a shaky start, Rogers produced the first real save of the match in the 15th minute, diving to his left to push Sam Woodall’s shot away. It was Goodricke though who lit up the game minutes later, as Osborne picked out Mann with a raking 35 yard pass, and Mann unleashed a powerful first time volley, which was clawed away by Oliver Williamson.
Langwith though should have taken the lead soon after, as Sam Woodall failed to capitalise on a terrible mix up between Rogers and his defence. The ball bounced over Rogers, but with the goal gaping Woodall nodded over from six yards out. Then in the 25th minute Langwith were punished for their profligacy, as Goodricke opened the scoring through a neat move.
Fabian Ashurst flicked the ball into the path of Mann, who delivered a delicious cross to the back post which was nodded back across the face of the goal and into the corner by Costas Avramidis. And on the stroke of half time Goodricke almost doubled their lead, as Chris Osborne planted a powerful header narrowly wide from an Ashurst corner.
Goodricke continued to play neat football after the interval, but Langwith should have equalised through Andy Hutt after Rogers was only able to palm an initial shot into his path. The Langith right winger though struggled to get the ball from under his feet, and scuffed his shot wide with the goal gaping.
Rogers then pushed a Louis Pegg curling freekick away, whilst at the other end a deflected Mann shot looped onto the top of the bar. Then in the 40th minute the JLD was left to behold the goal of the tournament, as Goodricke doubled their lead. Mann did excellently to keep the ball in play, and lofted a 25 yard pass onto the run of Osborne, who first time unleashed a savage left footed volley which rifled into the top corner of the net, with Williamson unmoved.
Langwith though refused to submit to defeat, and after hitting the woodwork from a corner, and seeing a Craig Burnell shot fizz wide, they pulled a goal back. Woodall utilised his pace to seize upon a through ball, and calmly slotted his finish past Rogers and into the bottom corner of the Goodricke net.
A tense 10 minutes remained, as Goodrike fought valiantly to resist the efforts of Langwith, with Osborne making several timely interventions to round off an outstanding performance. Langwith did though come ever so close to finding an equaliser, as Matt Mowton rose to head a Marcus Campbell corner onto the bar.
Goodricke though survived and now progress through to Thursday’s vase final, where they will play either Langwith 2nds or Alcuin 3rds, whilst Langwith will rue the missed chances which cost them the chance of victory.
After the game Goodricke captain Fabian Ashurst told Vision: “I thought we played well and got the job done. It was a professional performance with a special goal from Chris Osborne, and we’re looking forward to the final now.”
Langwith skipper Matt Jones commended the way his side played, commenting: “It was a top effort, and we narrowly missed out to a good team. We hit the bar two or three teams and it was a good game, no shame in going out like that.”
Vision MOTM: Chris Osborne