IT'S takes time for a new group of players to gel and unfortunately for Langho this was the game that Readstone United finally got it together.

Having lost their opening two games, United -- made up of last year's Readstone and Whalley Junior under 16s players -- looked like they had been together for ever.

They did leave it late in this keenly contested clash which at one stage could have gone either way.

But in the end two goal striker Jamie Barnes led the way starting and ending the scoring.

Langho started brightly and had it not been for Readstone keeper James Nelson they would have taken an early lead.

Nelson produced a string of fine saves -- including a double save to deny Chris Tinker and Lee Jackson.

So it was something against the run of play when Readstone opened the scoring thanks to a show of skill and determination from Jamie Barnes.

The powerful striker latched on to a through ball from Sam Holmes, muscled his way around his marker and skipped past Peter Hinchcliffe to score.

Minutes later Hinchcliffe was caught out by Readstone skipper David Mercer who beat the keeper with a 35 yard free kick.

It was a big blow for Langho but they responded with some swift counter attacking with the lively Daniel Holgate involved in the action.

Lee Demaine flashed a shot across the face of the goal before Hinchcliffe saved with his feet to deny Barnes a second goal after good work from Gary Brunskill.

Langho finally forced a goal past Nelson when Tinker fined home a lose ball after the keeper produced another brilliant save to keep out David Price's close range header.

After the break Tinker shot wided twice when well placed before Readstone defender Adam Nuttall nearly put through his own goal.

With the game evenly poised the next goal was always going to be crucial. Nelson got down swiftly to keep out another DeMaine shot before Readstone went 3-1 up with a thumping shot from Elliot Wood.

The hard working Brunskill scored number four before Barnes show his pace to race past Langho's left back to score his second and Readstone's fifth of the match.Langho 1 Readstone United 5 LANGHO: Peter Hinchcliffe, Chris Hodgson, Matthew Eglin, Thomas Holgate, Lee DeMaine, Ben Wearden, Lee Jackson, Ben Knight, Chris Tinker, Daniel Holfgate and David Price. Subs: Craig Duffy, Will Rix and Shaun Stell.

READSTONE: James Nelson, Adam Nuttall, Stuart Grant, Sam Holmes, Tom Fearnhead, Danny Liles, Andrew Moores, David Mercer, Elliot Wood, Jamie Barnes and Gary Brunskill. Subs: Keiron Monks, Sam Brydges and Terry Nelson