James 5-1 Langwith
Edwards (10) (39) Benney
Singleton (33, 69)
Gill (66)
Fox (86-P)
Favourites James continued their strong start to the season with an eventually comfortable victory over a Langwith side that failed to capitalise on the momentum gained in a well contested first half.
James were dominant in the opening exchanges and Langwith’s efforts were cruelly undone by an unfortunate mistake from keeper Steve Le Cornu, who allowed left winger James Edwards to head in James’ first on 10 minutes after a lofted ball from captain Mandeep Sangha. James’ pace in the final third was a defining factor in the game and contributed to their second, as Singleton showed good strength down the left channel before unleashing a low drive past Le Cornu’s left.
Langwith were rewarded for their persistence on 39 minutes as skipper Tom Benney completed a well worked move to give them some hope going into the break.
However, half-time seemed to arrive too early for Langwith and James’ overall superiority shone through in the second period. Sangha’s decision to move Ralph Gill to central midfield proved pivotal, as he became instrumental in James’ reestablishment of dominance.
Two second half goals in four minutes all but sealed the game for James, the latter a composed finish from Singleton following a sublime aerial through ball from the midfield.
Langwith failed to recover and James capped off a strong display with a penalty four minutes from time, after substitute Declan Tuite was felled just inside the box.
Teams
James: Batzan; Sangha (c), Elliot, Gill, McCormick; Clarckson, Jobling, Fox, Edwards; Jopson, Singleton.
Subs: Axeford, Tuite
Langwith: Le Cornu; Grindell, Henn, Pickergill, Chaimo, Benney (c); Vidal, Cambell, Parsinson; Morton, Koop
Subs: Brooks, MacDonald, Sarrafan
Lazy reporting