1st Team v Hertford Town

No. 46   10th April 2013.     Herts F A Charity Shield – Quarter Final
Hertford Town                 2 (Mark Summers 21, Andrew Pearce 76)
Kings Langley                 1 (Craig Lynskey 2)
Hertford Town and Kings Langley finally played their Charity Shield tie a full eight months after the previous round, following four postponements and the switching of the tie to Hertford due to pitch availability. King began the night on a punishing and farcical schedule of five games in the next seven days and with the winners booked to play the semi next week, surely only a masochist would wish to progress. However, Kings stunned their Premier League opponents by attacking from the off and when Craig Lynskey forced a corner, Shaun Owens’ inswinging kick caused chaos and Lynskey forced the ball over a crowded goal-line. Another Lynskey run and cut back saw a Ben Long piledriver brilliantly parried by Lewis Kidd and with Joe Gallagher orchestrating some creative attacking football, Kings looked to have Hertford on the ropes. But they weathered the storm and a moment of inspiration by Mark Summers arguably turned the game as his forty yard shot didn’t touch the ground until it hit the back of the net, beating Ant Ladyman all ends up. The tie continued as a fairly even contest, but Jimmy Armstrong was causing Town problems as his persistence twice robbed a defender to set up chances. The first time Lynskey was unable to turn in his cross and the second saw Kidd save his one-on-one. With both teams tiring and the spectre of extra time looming, Town were awarded a corner, Ant Ladyman called and came for it, but Andrew Pearce got his head there first and the tie was effectively won and lost. Langley went to the end, an Armstrong back header tipped over the bar, and can be proud of a performance that received total commitment and probably merited more.  Line-up:- (4-3-3)