1st Team v Risborough Rangers

No. 53    Wednesday 7th May 2014.     SSML Division One Cup – Final
Kings Langley                3  (Weiss 20, Hutchins 30, Connolly 90)
Risborough Rangers     0                     AT LONDON COLNEY
Kings Langley ended the season on a high as they retained the Division I Cup in their third consecutive Final appearance. Risborough Rangers brought an army of vociferous travelling support to London Colney’s Cotlandswick ground, which added to the atmosphere, but in the event Kings had the greater say where it mattered – on the pitch. It probably counted in their favour that they’d used up their quota of nerve jangling tension to win promotion at the wire on Saturday and looked more relaxed than Rangers, who were last season’s runners up in the Division 2 Cup Final. Nevertheless, the ‘twelfth man’ of support gave the reds a quick-fire start and Lawrence Clark had the first sight of goal with a speculative shot. Jack Johnson responded with a wing run that outstripped the defence and brought a save from Steve Clark and then his cross saw Alex Campana volley narrowly wide. Similar pace on the other flank resulted in a Paul Insley cross that fell to Campana, who twisted and turned to find a shooting position, opening up space for Mitchell Weiss to step in and send a low shot past the unsighted Clark, giving Kings the lead with twenty minutes on the clock. The Risborough faithful tried to rally their team with chants predicting a 2-1 win in their favour, but Kings were moving smoothly through the gears, with a fierce Gary Connolly shot parried and it was little surprise when they doubled the scoreline on the half hour. A miscued clearance, aided by a gale force wind, looped high into the air and was tracked by Danny Hutchins, twenty yards out. His first time volley swerved outwards, but still had enough leeway to find the net, albeit via the right hand post.  The second half saw an assured display from Kings as Ant Ladyman, immune to spectators’ comments behind his goal, and the usual defensive trio of Dean Hitchcock, Craig Preston and Callum Adebiyi showed why they have the best record in the division, frustrating an attack that never really got going all night. Wing backs Jack Johnson and Connor Toomey always offered an extra dimension and Gary Connolly and Danny Hutchins had to be at their best to combat a quick moving Rangers midfield that was probably the most accomplished part of their team. The strength and recovery powers of Mitchell Weiss proved effective in the hole, while Paul Insley and Alex Campana delighted the eye with some high speed slaloms, only to be halted by desperate but competent defending. Rangers support and players went to the end, but could make little inroad and it was fitting that as the last playing minute of the season was entered, substitute Nick Jackson put Gary Connolly through and the skipper made it 3-0 with a shot that the impressive Clark could only help over the line. The team’s appreciation of each other at the following presentation of the Cup was evident and genuine and the curtain came down on an impressive season for Paul Hughes and Ritchie Hanlon, aided by Clark Jenner. The celebrations were a little quieter than last season’s final, played on a warm Saturday afternoon at Tring, but perhaps the first time is always sweeter. They were certainly quieter than the promotion aftermath of four day ago, but after weeks of hopes and fears and calculations, the Kings Langley faithful, drained of emotions, probably felt that they had earned the right to relax at the end of a historic season.