Langford 1 v 0 Bedford

Saturday 28th December 2019

Spartan South Midlands League Division One
Forde Park, Langford
Admission including Programme: £6.00
Attendance: 49

 

I had long since planned to go to Totton & Eling today, to complete the Wessex League. But true to form for a club that is proving incredibly elusive to tick off, a pitch inspection for their game today was announced for 11am, far too late for me to take a chance with no other appealing games in the area as back up, and so instead I headed north to Bedfordshire for this game.

Forde Park is about a half hour walk from Arlesey train station, taking a short cut along a footpath through Henlow Park, which is quite pleasant in daylight hours but is unlit and completely dark at night through a wooded section. The ground is located adjacent to the passing road, with its entrance signposted with a small board placed on the opposite side of the road, and a pair of fixture boards and portable flags either side of the entrance gate with "LFC" painted on. After passing around the clubhouse building, admission is paid for at a large wooden hut, in exchange for a complimentary programme. The clubhouse, located in one corner of the ground, is very spacious inside, and virtually full length windows along the front make it bright and airy, whilst also making it possible to watch the game from inside. A tea bar window, selling drinks, snacks and burgers, is located in the same wall as the bar. There are two small metallic stands either side of the dugouts along one length of the ground, one providing seating, the other four steps to stand on, with just hard standing around the rest of the pitch. A breeze block wall underneath the pitch side railings do little to enhance the aesthetics of the ground, but on a more positive note, there is plenty of green space around three sides of the ground, and tall fir trees naturally enclose the ground. Mention should also be made of the very friendly welcome received throughout my visit, from the gateman to the ladies in the tea bar. The 32 page programme was well presented with an attractive customer and offered decent background in presenting both clubs and relevant statistics, although 18 pages were devoted to advertising - not that that is a criticism of a complimentary programme.

Langford have had a difficult opening half to their league campaign, coming into this game in 17th place in the 19 club Division, following four wins and a draw from their 16 league games, and they had lost their last seven league games, and had won just once since late August - indeed, they picked up nine of their total of 13 points in August. Bedford were in 13th place, following six wins and a draw from their opening 16 league games.

On a very dreary, dank afternoon, this was not a game that will live long in the memory in all honesty, with a distinct lack of quality on show for the most part. Langford opened the scoring on 18 minutes after an initial shot was parried by the keeper, only for the rebound to be struck home despite brushing the keeper on its way through. On 31 minutes, Bedford came closest to levelling the scores when the ball was fizzed in from the left wing, and although surely more intended as a cross, the ball hit the top left corner of the woodwork and bounced clear.

Into the second half and Langford had a great chance to double their lead when the Langford forward managed to wriggle clear of the defence and run towards goal, and then lifting the ball over the advancing the keeper but also just over the bar too. On 52 minutes, a corner was played low to the near post and amid some confusion, the ball ricocheted gently just past the post for another corner. The visitors then managed to create a few half chances, before it was Langford's turn to hit the woodwork, on 86 minutes, when the Langford player had time to take a touch just outside the area before lashing the ball against the crossbar. Bedford applied plenty of pressure in and around Langford's penalty area in added on time, but without coming close to grabbing an equaliser, and indeed in the last meaningful action of the game, the ball was hoofed long downfield following a Bedford corner, which the Bedford keeper tried to deal with but was dispossessed on the wing close to the half way line, but a long range shot at the open goal went just wide, and very soon after the final whistle blew for what was a very welcome three points for Langford.