Match Report: Kings Langley 1:0 Hertford Town

Kings took the points in this Hertfordshire derby thanks to a superb free kick by Louie Collier that finally broke Town’s resistance..
Two well drilled defences ensured first half chances were limited with attractive build ups failing to produce an end result. The visitors main threat came down the left flank, but with new signing Matt Hall settling in well beside Jorell Johnson in a back three, Juliusz Pazio was rarely threatened, Ergys Pepaj’s shot from the edge of the box fizzing over the crossbar being their best chance. At the other end, player-manager Ben Herd and Harry Gilzean, grandson of the Spurs legend Alan, marshalled the defence well and when keeper Luke Mewitt was grounded, Lorenzo Johnson’s low goalbound shot was cleared off the line.
The tactical battle continued in the second half as both teams continued to probe for an opening, but the wind of change was finally signalled when Sonny French ended a surging run with a rising shot just over. Almost immediately, Kings were awarded a free kick just outside the right hand corner of the box and a short touch from Rayan Clarke was hammered home in spectacular fashion by Louie Collier. The game had now opened up and traffic was mostly one way, as a flowing move involving Rene Howe, Louie Collier and Sonny French saw the latter finish just past the post. Cheyce Grant brought a superb save from Luke Mewitt shortly after, as Langley finished strongly, before comfortably playing out the last minutes to take a vital three points and edge back ahead of the chasing pack in the wake of leaders Bedford Town.
Purely on an historic note, the only previous occasion that the teams have met here in the League was back in August 2014 in the Spartan South Midland League and with the match report being remarkably similar to the above, the game was settled in the 82nd minute by Kings’ Nick Jackson, also wearing the number 11 shirt on the day!

Roy Mitchard