Harpenden side Marquis of Granby were a goal up in the first ten minutes on a heavy pitch.

But Directors got back on terms with a much-disputed penalty, and began to exert pressure on the Marquis' defence. They were rewarded when man-of-the-match Scott Langridge turned Steve Weston's through-ball into the top corner.

Matt Gates, who has returned from a long injury lay-off and was last year's leading scorer, was influential in Langridge's second goal, when Marquis' keeper could only parry his shot for Langridge to tap home.

Langridge soon returned to favour when he chested down a long ball from keeper John Sandford, for Gates to get his first of the season and make it 4-1 at the break.

From the restart, Directors kept up the pressure by controlling the midfield.

It was midfielder Matt Waring who scored the best goal of the game when, after some fine inter-play with the newly-introduced Scott Green, he beat two defenders to put away his second.

Gates got his second when he latched onto a cross from Gary Davis and clipped home, leaving the Marquis' keeper stranded.

To their great credit, Marquis never gave up and were rewarded with a late goal.

There was still time for centre-back Lee Gorrell to score when the ball reached him through a crowd of players and he added his name to the score sheet.

Marquis of Granby 2

Directors Arms 7

St Albans Verulam League

Division One

December 12, 2001 12:32