Browse Sections

• Local football
• Local cricket

Cardinal Villa 2 Langley Rangers 2 (abandoned after 82 mins)

George Dodds
13/ 3/2008

SUNDAY’S Premier Division relegation scrap was abandoned with the match on a knife edge.

Langley Rangers' manager Chris Roach was shown the red card for protesting the award of a penalty – the third of the game – from the touchline.

But instead of then whistling for Villa’s Gordon Howcroft to take the spot kick, the referee abandoned the game, to the incredulity of players on both sides.

Sunday League and Lancashire FA officials will now study the referee’s report, and their response could have far-reaching implications for both teams.

Villa went into the game needing all three points to leapfrog their opponents out of the second relegation spot. Anything less would make them favourites to join the doomed VASA in Division One next season.

The opening period was a tale of two penalties. After 13 minutes Villa goalkeeper Anthony Southerland came a long way off his line but failed to collect a cross cleanly, crashing into Tom Ward in the process and conceding a penalty which Billy McCartney slotted home.

Almost immediately Antony Whitehouse had an opportunity to double Rangers’ lead when he latched onto Paul Tickle’s long ball out of defence only to shoot tamely at Southerland.

It looked a costly miss when, after 21 minutes, Steven Hill’s persistence saw him brought down in the Rangers' area. But the Villa striker spoiled his good work by pushing the resulting spot kick wide.

Rangers' keeper Stephen Grimshaw saved smartly at the feet of Danny Walsh, following good work by Howcroft, Hill shot just over the bar from distance, and a string of four successive corners caused concern for the outstanding Tickle and his defensive partners.

Three minutes before the break Villa levelled after a sweeping move. William Mayo found Hill with a great ball and Walsh timed his arrival at the back post to perfection, hammering home the deep cross.

A double substitution by Rangers saw Tickle pushed forward early in the second-half, and the move almost paid immediate dividends when he prodded John Zenzuk’s low cross goalwards only for the ball to bounce clear off the inside of a post.

He had better luck after 52 minutes when Zenzuk’s shot was spilled by Southerland and he tucked the rebound away.

Ward shot too high, and the combative Roach in midfield won lots of ball, but Rangers could not kill off the game.

Indeed, it took a superb save from Grimshaw to deny Hill at the other end, the Langley goalkeeper spreading himself to deflect an angled shot over the crossbar.

Southerland was equally alert to turn Rhys Jones’ shot round the post at the other end as both sides began to create clear-cut chances.

Rangers were caught looking for an offside decision after 69 minutes, and Hill took full advantage, running on and firing the equaliser past Grimshaw.

John Boal produced a fine block to deny Ward, then came up with a miraculous goal-line clearance.

With eight minutes left Howcroft was left on the deck after challenging for a high ball in the Rangers’ box. The referee pointed to the spot and set in motion a train of events which will lead to the result of the game being decided in the committee rooms.

Cardinal Villa: Anthony Southerland, William Mayo, Ryan Sharkey, Danny Walsh, Steven Thomas, John Boal, John McIntosh, Gordon Howcroft, Steven Hill, Jason Cooper, John Rowbotham. Subs Adam Callum, John Hill.

Langley Rangers: Stephen Grisham, Jamie Marsland, Rhys Jones, Jamie Cannon, Billy McCartney, Paul Tickle, Paul Cannon, Tom Ward, Antony Whitehouse, Chris Roach, John Zenzuk. Subs: Nicholas Stouger, Chris Houlican.