[visiongallery set=72157633520995146]
Photos: Oona Venermo
IN A duel which took until the second half to get college cup fans excited, Langwith 2s came from behind to steal all three points from their group C counterparts, Wentworth 3rds.
In a first half during which both sides seemed too tentative to test their opposite goalkeepers, little moments of footballing class were produced. The ball was mainly seen up in the air, hoofed forward by defenders who were less than confident on the ball. The moments the ball did find itself on the deck, play was sporadic and both teams struggled to maintain possession for extended periods as poor touches and woeful passing ensured a quick handover of the ball.
Perhaps the best and only chance of the first period came when Langwith captain Sam Morley forced a flat handed save from Wentworth goalkeeper Aakash Nasarpuri, his shot from a free kick was directed straight toward the not yet tested keeper.
The half was adequately summarised when Theo Hannah hooked his shot high and wide of the Wentworth sticks. Spectators were left with little to discuss at half time and prayed the two sides would return in the second half with a little more to offer.
Langwith started the second period as the better of two sides, Louis Pegg making himself useful in the centre of midfield by slowing down play and picking out some good passes.
However, the arsenal of both sides was again questioned when Langwith forward James McDonald completely missed the ball in an attempted volleyed effort towards goal from a Nasarpuri clearing hand.
The substitution of Richard Hemingway for Georgi Georgiev saw right back Tom Rudden pushed into a central forward role. Immediately this had a positive effect on Langwith’s play and within his first few touches, Rudden forced Nasarpuri into his first fine save of the day. Errol Waters played the now upfront man through and the Wentworth keeper was quick off his line to deny Rudden’s low shot into the far corner.
However, it was Wentworth front man John Cook who served up the first goal of the day with a delicious long range finish into the bottom corner of Oliver Williamson’s net.
Captain Morley lead the response with a an equalising goal from Pegg’s free kick and this appeared to spur his men on as forward McDonald finally arrived on the scene to force Nasarpuri to make a meal of a shot directed low at his goal.
It was McDonald who then fired Langwith into what was probably a deserved lead when the Wentworth goalkeeper and defence failed to clear an initial McDonald header from a long throw and the forward was quick to pounce on the rebound.
In a game in which all the action came late in the second half Langwith stole the spoils in the dying minutes as Wentworth squandered an unlikely 1-0 lead. Although not an enthralling game, Langwith will feel they played well to turn around a 1-0 deficit. Positives can be taken from their performance in latter period and were deserved winners after enjoying most of the creative play in the second half.