1st Team v Bedford

No. 34   19th February 2013.     Spartan South Midlands League - Division 1
Bedford                      3 (Chris Johnson 26, Josh Sturniolo 66, Gareth Hunt 90+11)
Kings Langley           2 (Joe Gallagher 50, Jimmy Armstrong 57pen)
Kings run of 11unbeaten League games came to an end on an incident packed night at Bedford. After having the worst of the opening five minutes, the home side produced some good football, finding their passes well at a pace that made the Kings defence look vulnerable for the first time this year. Kings’ midfield was uncharacteristically out of sorts and when two of them got in a tangle, the ball fell well for Chris Johnson, whose 15 yard shot gave Bedford a deserved interval lead. A resilient Langley replaced a winger with a more central Joe Gallagher and it paid off when he lashed a Jack Johnson cross into the top corner. Another Johnson run was halted illegally and Jimmy Armstrong rasped home the penalty to complete the comeback. However, as they strived to deliver the killer blow, they were caught by a Bedford attack that had become increasingly rare and a raking crossfield shot beat the defence and was helped in by substitute Josh Sturniolo. Still Kings looked in the ascendancy, Jimmy Armstrong and Jack Johnson having successive shots cleared off the line, but with six minutes to go the visitors lost Jack Johnson, comfortably their most effective player on the night, to a wayward tackle. As the clock hit ninety, a moment of madness gave the referee no option but to straight red Luke Ladyman and as Bedford exploited the numeric advantage, Ant Ladyman made a brave block to prevent a goal, but was injured in the process. Down to nine men, Kings were not helped by the official finding fifteen minutes of time added on and in the eleventh of these, stand in keeper Gary Wallace was given no chance as Gareth Hunt beat the defence and lobbed the winner. Line-up (4-3-3)