1st Team v Southall

No. 47   Easter Monday 21st April 2014.     Spartan South Midlands League – Division 1
Southall                         1 (Jibilou 89)
Kings Langley               3 (Jackson 1, Connolly 54, Johnson 66)
Nick Jackson was inches from converting a Mitchell Weiss pass after just 15 seconds, but atoned within a minute by steering home a Danny Hutchins cross from the opposite wing to give Kings a flying start. The striker then put in Tom Carter but his shot was wide and Southall gradually played themselves back into the game with a Jerome Ecclestone header just over. Southall’s approach work was easy on the eye, but their final ball was giving Ant Ladyman little trouble. However, it was apparent that the next goal would be vital and it fell to Kings in somewhat bizarre fashion ten minutes into the second half. It would be fair to say that Tom Carter’s shooting was not at its most accurate on the day and when a jinking Nick Jackson run and cross gave him a clear opportunity, his mis-hit shot seemed to be going high and wide. However, it suddenly dropped like a stone to hit the crossbar, taking everyone by surprise except Gary Connolly, who headed the rebound in from three yards.  Kings effectively wrapped it up when a free kick was partially cleared and Jack Johnson showed the home side how to finish with an accurate drive through a crowded box. Ant Ladyman held Ayouis Jibilou’s fierce free kick, survived Robert Jermaine’s cumbersome attempt to put both him and the ball in the net, but was disappointed not to collect another clean sheet when a free-kick was headed in at the far post in the last few minutes. Three players took further knocks as a season of attrition grinds to a close, but it was a character team performance to bounce back from disappointment and keep the promotion challenge on track..