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Not a Stroll in the (Highmoor) Park!

 A match that should have had been much more comfortable ended in a tense last ten minutes as the boys found it difficult to make many clear-cut chances. The pitches at Highmoor Park are quite large and lend themselves more to a passing game, an aspect we have still to master to better effect.   It also means harder work when tracking back; all too often however our two man defence was left to deal with a three or four man attack.

 Two-nil up within 15 minutes with a couple of great shots from Nathan and we started to look comfortable.  But that was for 15 minutes!  Leaving one of their attackers unmarked on the edge of the box allowed them back in to the game as Dan was only able to get a fingertip to the well struck shot and it wasn’t enough to deflect it past the post.  A scrambled-in goal by Elliot Norman restored the two-goal difference before half time.

Kicking up hill in the second half we failed to score again and in turn we allowed them to scramble one in from a corner that should have been cleared away easily.  When the boys put their minds to it some great passing football was on display but this was in patches rather then being consistently displayed.  Although we looked like we should be safe there was a huge sigh of relief as the final whistle went and the three points went to Langho.

Goals: Nathan Hodson 2, Elliot Norman

MoM: Elliot Norman

So near and yet so far!

For the second week in a row the boys battled hard and worked much better as a team but failed to get a positive result.  You have to feel, however, that if they keep playing like this then the points will start to come our way.

Rossendale Valley Tigers are a good strong team and the improvement in our boys’ performance is reflected in the scores from the two games played this season.  5-1 away from home in December, and just 1-2 to them today.  We had our chances though and it could have been so different.  The Tigers went ahead in the first half when we weren’t able to clear our lines properly – lessons still need to be learnt there.  It was nearly all square again soon after; Josh followed up well when the ball went loose in the penalty box. Unfortunately he wasn’t able to keep the ball down and it lifted over the bar. Matt got the equaliser soon after with a great turn and shot past the keeper in to the bottom right hand corner.  1-1 at half time and we were in with a chance.

The balance of play was much the same in the second half with chances either end. Their winner was a screamer that gave our keeper no chance at all. Try as we did after that the second equaliser wouldn’t come and so 1-2 was the final score. Disappointing but much better to watch and gives great optimism for the future.

Goal: Matt Neilson

MoM: Elliot Norman

G-Force – the sequel!

Although the faces all looked familiar it seemed to be a different Langho team that took to the football field – yes, field (‘G’ for grass this week).  A couple of changes of position and a reminder of the basics of the game, passing, movement etc. did the trick.  The Rydings playing fields looked magnificent in the late winter sunshine and it was great to see 2 or 3 games going on and the ‘crowds’ that this attracted.  Think we could have done a roaring trade in brews and bacon butties – maybe next season!  Well done to the ground staff, the playing surface was as good as it has been all season.  

 This game couldn’t be further from the one we witnessed last week.  Our lads were determined and played some decent football that put Fulledge under pressure throughout the game.  Some great saves by both Dan and Jamie kept us in the match.  A shout for a penalty was turned down and, if converted, it would have taken us to one-all and who knows what might have happened.  Team play was altogether much improved and with form like this in the league we’d be in a much higher position.

Very well done lads you got to the quarter finals of the league cup, keep this form up for the final few weeks of the season and put a few more points in the bag.

 Thanks to Anthony, players and parents of the U8’s Maroon team for agreeing to a 45 minute delay in your ko time so that this cup match could go ahead – I owe you a couple of boxes of Jaffa cakes!

 MoM: Daniel Kellington