1st Team v Hoddesdon Town

No. 30    Tuesday 16th December 2014.     Spartan South Midlands League – Premier Division
Hoddesdon Town                 1 (Nzuruba 65 pen)
Kings Langley                       3 (Campana 4, 29, Atkins 22)
Kings Langley continued their impressive League run by seeing off Hoddesdon Town at Lowfield, putting themselves beyond reach with an imperious first half display.  The versatile Connor Toomey, back to a midfield role, delivered a defence splitting through ball for Alex Campana after four minutes and the in-form striker drew Marco Cancar before slotting home. Callum Adebiyi, Daryl Atkins and Jack Johnson wasted good chances to extend the lead as Kings dominated, but Town then had the misfortune to lose two players to injury, the second of which was  a clash of heads that left Jack Pattison heavily bandaged. The tide was relentless however and Daryl Atkins’ glancing header from a Campana cross put them two goals to the good, before Jack Johnson hit the bar, as the visitors justified their lofty position with a range of thoughtful long and short passing at a tempo that left Town chasing shadows. It culminated with a free kick awarded just outside the box on the half hour and Alex Campana once more delivered the perfect response with a strike over the wall into the net. The second period was a different story, as Town fought for their pride and Ant Ladyman saved on the line in a goalmouth scramble and then denied Josh Smith from a good opportunity. Kings continued to struggle to reach earlier heights and a rash challenge by the damaged Pattison resulted in a penalty that Ike Nzuruba converted. Kings’ protestations after the event were vociferous and out of scale and served only to disrupt their rhythm as Hoddesdon sensed a sudden vulnerability, but Langley gradually retained their poise to keep their opponents at arms’ length as both sides played out the last twenty five minutes as if sensing that the night’s action was over.