STAPLEGROVE beat Langford Rovers 3-2 Somerset League Division 1 (W).

It was never going to be an easy afternoon for Staplegrove playing on a very damp pitch which was bound to get heavier as the game progressed and against a very young, skilful footballing side. It was the youngsters that came out of the blocks fastest and controlled the early minutes of the game.

They scored early when their winger beat his man and fired home from a good angle. That goal seemed to have an effect on the Grove boys as they started to get ‘stuck in’ more and gain more possession. Grove equalised with the help of an element of luck.

Sam Mockridge overlapped down the left flank and floated a high ball into the six yard area.

The keeper looked favourite to catch it but as he looked up at the ball the sun was directly behind it and blinded him. The next thing he knew was that the ball was in the back of his net. Langford regained the lead when their midfielder used a colleague for a wall pass, ran unchallenged past Grove defenders to recollect the ball, and finished a well-worked goal.

Strangely, as the match got into the last 20 minutes, the younger side started to flag. Grove took control and looked the far better, stronger side. Grove gained a direct free kick 20 yards out on the left which Russell Nightingale took and blasted goalwards.

It took a deflection off one of Langford’s players before hitting the net but the dubious goals panel awarded Russell the goal. Grove continued to press, looking for the winner, and it came when wingers Jake Quick and Ali Izzard swapped sides.

Quick won the ball, ran at his man, and put a cracking ball across to Izzard cutting in from the left and he buried it to earn his side all three points. It was a hard-fought victory against a very good Langford side and it is one that has taken Kirk Reece’s team to the top of the table in their first season in this division.

Staplegrove: David Perham, Adam White, Carl Edwards (Capt), Nick Izzard, Sam Mockridge, Jake Quick, Gary Sealey, Aaron Ellicott (Nick Crowford), Ali Izzard, (Matt Sibley), Luke DeSave (Peter Horton), Russell Nightingale. Unused sub: Mike Bird. Manager Kirk Reece.