Where to now for lost Langy?
Posted: 11 June, 2008
| Langwarrin | 0 | — | 1 | Kingston City |
Round 10: Langwarrin v Kingston City — 7 June, 2008
After the hugely disappointing game against Keilor Park, the boys were once again at home to try and gain some points and respect back. The challengers today would be Kingston City who, much like Langy, have had a hard season in State League One and find themselves languishing in the drop zone. Both teams needing the points, the job would be made all the more difficult for Langy with the absence of inspirational keeper Jonesy, though reserves keeper Sean Skelly was more than ready to stand between the posts. The Langy faithful, who have remained true to their name all season, had once again come in numbers to show the team, and the club some support.
Unfortunately the first 45 minutes were something of a non-event. Neither side created a whole lot going forward and chances were reduced to long shots and corners, though Langy's defence was much stronger, a vast improvement from last week. The midfield was also doing well in the absence of Jamie Heard with Pooley, Tommy, Shane, Caleb and the new signing Boris working as one to reduce any threat Kingston posed. So it wasn't all gloom for the gaffer at the interval, though the home side would need to do more in the way of chances if the three points and the first home win of the season were to be obtained.
But it was Kingston that almost broke the deadlock after the break. A well worked move from the away side opened up some space for their striker to receive the ball on the edge of the Langwarrin box. With one touch he flicked the ball up and then hit a low volley that was heading for the bottom corner. Fortunately young defender Ben Cullen was there to block the shot, with Karl Cochrane ready to clear any further danger.
It was then Langy's turn to create one of the best pieces of play seen by them at Lawton Park this season, and which should have been followed by a goal. A Kingston throw deep in Langwarrin's defensive half was cut off by Sodder. The ball landed to Caleb, followed by a lay-off to Tommy who hit a superb 50 yard ball over the Kingston defence to the running Barry Tulloch. The young Scotsman out muscled his opponent, saw the keeper running at him and did extremely well to centre the ball past two defenders and the Kingston Goalkeeper. The ball found itself bouncing past Jamie O, just three yards out of an open goal. But instead of tapping in what would have surely been some points for Langy, he left the ball thinking it was going in, only to see it ricochet off the up-right and cleared by an away defender. Once again the faithful were duped into thinking that they had the lead.
This injected some life into the Kingston boys who started to push forward in search of the win. One of the city strikers received the ball on the wing, turned his man and cut in to find himself one-on-one with big Sean Skelly. But the reserves keeper was up to the task, getting down low to parry the shot away from goal and out for a corner.
It was now just minutes from the final whistle and a valuable point when the cruel game that is football injected yet more misery on Langwarrin. In the 88th minute a Kingston throw resulted in the ball being rolled across the penalty area. The Langy defender was muscled off the ball, leaving the Kingston striker with nothing else to do but finish from 8 yards.
Another cruel end and another three points gone for a Langwarrin side that finds itself in the relegation zone and must start picking up points soon if they want to remain in State league 1. So it's off to Westgate next week at the unusual time of 7 o'clock. Let's all get down there and support a squad that has a decent away record this season and has a chance to show us all why Langy deserves to play in this league.
Team: Skelly, Quinn, Cullen, Rasimi, Tagliaferro (Tulloch 68), Poole (O’Donoghue 46), Ahmadzai, ODonnell, Nicholes, Ovcin, Cochrane
Unused Subs: Thomas, Caffrey
