Kirk Langley 1 Coach Rangers 4

Monday 28th May 2012
Kirk Langley 1 Coach Rangers 4
Bill Redfern Memorial Cup Second Round
At: G. B. Barrington Playing Field
Kick-off: 7-00 pm
No admission or programme
Weather: sunny
Attendance: 20 (headcount)
Duration: first-half: 45:00; second-half: 45:00

Coach Rangers will face Osmaston in the Bill Redfern Memorial Cup semi finals at Mappleton (tbc) a week on Wednesday following a 4-1 victory over Kirk Langley this evening. League leaders Bradley will meet Rose & Crown at Shirley (also tbc) in the other semi-final, also on Wednesday 6th June.

On a pleasant sunny evening at the G. B. Barrington Playing Field, Kirk Langley made Coach work hard especially after they took the lead just before the half-hour mark through Chris Johnson’s near-post volley. Callum Woolley, scorer of seven goals Coach’s 10-1 win in the previous round, clinically levelled things up before the break. Ian Godfrey gave Coach the lead not long after the hour mark before Robert Redfern produced a fantastic reaction save to keep out a header from Jamie Stewart. The save proved crucial as it kept Coach in front and the visitors proceeded to wrap up the win with Godfrey and Woolley both scoring their second goals.

Tonight’s quarter final scores:
Bradley 4 Brassington 1
Kirk Langley 1 Coach Rangers 4
Red Lion 3 Osmaston 9
Rose & Crown 3 Doveridge 0

Coach (in yellow shirts, black shorts and socks) got the game underway attacking the pavilion end in the first half. In what was a patient opening by both sides, Coach almost took the lead in the 18th minute when Matt Hackett saw a header cleared off the line.

However, it was Kirk Langley (9th in the league table with 9 points from 7 games) who opened the scoring in the 29th minute. Chris Johnson met a delicious near-post right-wing corner and volleyed home at the near post.

By this time I was watching the game from by the cricket square in the company of Referees Secretary Ian Fraser and hopper Dave ‘Veteran’ Woodings. I recalled how Coach had conceded first in th elast round at FC Hulland and went on to reply with TEN unanswered goals. We suspected this tie would be closer on an awkward undulating playing surface - and it was.

Eventually, Coach’s patience paid off as they equalised five minutes before the interval. Kev Millward threaded a defence-splitting pass forward into the path of Callum Woolley who clinically fired low past Kevin Rowland into the bottom left corner of the net.

While Rowland had no chance of keeping out Woolley’s shot, the Kirk Langley goalkeeper produced a couple of decent saves during the opening 15 minutes of the second half. He beat away a well-struck shot from Millward and, just before the hour mark, somehow kept out another shot from Hackett.

Coach (who I should have mentioned were 4th in the table with 15 points from 5 games) took the lead in the 64th minute with a swerving shot from Ian Godfrey.

Rowland kept on producing saves and he tipped over a rising 30-yard drive from Paul Godfrey who got forward from the back.

I said to ‘Veteran’ that a Kirk Langley equaliser would make things interesting and they almost got one with 11 minutes remaining. Jamie Stewart got on the end of a right-wing cross and Robert Redfern produced a reaction save to keep the ball out – arguably the best save I’ve seen in Summer League.

In the end, the final score may be cruel on Kirk Langley as Coach wrapped up the win with two goals in 100 seconds during the closing stages. Ian Godfrey’s 25-yard drive took a deflection on the way into the net and Woolley put away a first-time shot from Simon Wint’s pull back.

I’ve always enjoyed my visits to Kirk Langley’s G. B. Barrington Playing Field with views of countryside from one side of the ground and views of the cricket pitch and church from the opposite side by the benches.

Kirk Langley (red with black sleeves / black / black): 1. Kevin Rowland, 2. Tom Alford, x. Pete Ascot, x. Alex Wood, x. Tom Carey, 14. Billy Roberts, x. Dave Molder, 8. Chris Johnson, 4. Liam Smith, x. Pete Stanton, 10. Jamie Stewart, x. Jim Horsfield. Subs: x. Steve Smith, x. John Lyner. [sub 9 for 13, ht]

Coach Rangers (yellow/black/black): 1. Robert Redfern, 3. Carl Allen, 5. Dave Shipley, 6. Paul Godfrey, 7. Kev Millward, 12. Ian Godfrey. 9. Callum Woolley, 16. Craig Richardson, 4. Martyn Taylor, 11. Matt Hackett. Subs: 14. Jimmy Carter (for Hackett, 69), 15. Simon Wint (for Richardson, 65).

Goals:
1-0 Chris Johnson (29)
1-1 Callum Woolley (40)
1-2 Ian Godfrey (64)
1-3 Ian Godfrey (85)
1-4 Callum Woolley (87)