1st Team v Wealdstone

No. 10    Saturday 14th September 2013.     F A Cup – 1St Qualifying Round
Wealdstone                          6  (Cronin 18, 20,49, McGleish 57, Grant 74, Hutchinson 84)
Kings Langley                      1  (Shaun Owens 77)
Kings Langley’s impressive F A Cup run came to an end when they were unable to scale the mountain that was the three tier difference between them and Ryman Premier leaders Wealdstone. They certainly gave it a good shot though, matching their illustrious rivals for the first twenty minutes and arguably looking the better. Fortune did not favour the brave though and when Joe Gallagher was forced off with a deep gash to the knee, the physio worked hard to get the influential playmaker back on, but in the four minutes that they were down to ten men, Kings conceded two powerfully headed goals from crosses by Jay Siva and the match was effectively lost. The gamble had failed as Gallagher was unable to continue, but they ended the half still attempting to play interpassing football with the pace of Johnson and Hallissey making the occasional threat up front. The difference was that Wealdstone always looked likely to score and their finishing was lethal as demonstrated by low crosses converted at speed while under pressure by Parker and McGleish in the opening fifteen of the second half. While the lower League side never touched those heights they had their moments and it certainly wasn’t against the run of play when Adam Hallissey’s shot was blocked by the keeper, Jack Johnson rescued the ball and Shaun Owens fired a consolation. The home team demonstrated their superiority by replying almost immediately and hitting a late sixth, but Kings gave their travelling fans just reason to be proud of them and worthy of a standing ovation at the end.