1st Team v Stony Stratford Town

No. 54   4th May 2013.     Spartan South Midlands League – Division 1 Cup - Final
Sony Stratford Town      1 (Shaun Carr 54)
Kings Langley                 3 (Jack Johnson 21, Jimmy Armstrong 79, Adam Hallissey 86)
Kings Langley won the League Division One Cup to erase the memory of a last minute defeat at the same stage a year ago. On a sunny afternoon at Tring Athletic’s venue, they started the better, but it wasn’t until the twelfth minute that Jimmy Armstrong forced a save from James Howarth. Stony Stratford Town responded strongly, with a shot from the dangerous Shaun Carr and a Lee Jones shot over, but on twenty minutes a through ball to Armstrong saw him drift wide right and his fierce cross found Jack Johnson at the far post for the right back to score from close range. Armstrong and Carr both had further chances, but a rather flat first half closed with Kings looking good value for their lead. Ten minutes into the second period this was to change, as Ant Ladyman pulled off an instinctive point blank save, but was let down by his defence from the resultant corner as Ricky Stimpson’s shot was not dealt with and Shaun Carr netted in the resultant scramble. As the spectre of further Cup Final disappointment appeared on Kings’ shoulders, nerves set in and Stony had their best period of the game, setting up further chances before Kings found some solace from a Jack Johnson shot palmed away by Howarth. It was to be the substitutions by the Hanlon-Hughes management team that pulled the initiative back with striker Craig Lynskey on for wing back Nathan Pooley in a switch from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3, while Gary Connolly’s introduction for the tiring Sam Warrell further galvanized the differing styles of Ben Long and Joe Gallagher in midfield. Jimmy Armstrong’s shot on the run was uncharacteristically wide, but with ten minutes to go an Adam Hallissey central run at the defence culminated with a pass to the Kings striker with his back to goal, twelve yards out. The shepherding defender behind him seemed to have him covered, but the marksman showed his pedigree, twisting and turning to fire a low shot through a small gap that Howarth got his fingers to, but turned off the post into the net;- his 103rd and arguably the most important and memorable of his goals in a golden two years in Langley’s colours. Still it wasn’t over, as Stony, inspired by their diminutive skipper Pete Geyton, who gave a towering performance, caused concern to Kings’ defence, but skipper Luke Ladyman, Craig Preston (on the eve of his wedding) and Calum Adebiyi had regained their composure and stood firm. Kings, in no mood for further slips, sealed the trophy on 86 minutes when Craig Lynskey found a route through the centre blocked, but tried to find Armstrong from a prone position. Adam Hallissey, showing remarkable anticipation, intercepted the pass and blasted his shot at Howarth, who again got a hand to it, but could only watch as the ball rolled over the line in apparent slow motion.
 And so, to scenes of celebration, Kings lifted this particular trophy for the first time, adding to their top six finish, and brought the curtain down on a season that at the very least, could be described as eventful.
 Line-up:- (3-5-2);