MATCH REPORT: BEDFORD 1:1 KINGS LANGLEY

Another gritty and resilient performance saw Kings bring the Bedford Eagles back to earth and end their 100% League record. Although the clash of the two unbeaten teams was, as so often happens, never a classic, more a war of attrition, both sides were relieved and probably satisfied that their unbeaten records were maintained.

Vastly changed line ups from when the clubs met in step 3 last season meant that Jorell Johnson was the only survivor from that encounter, but for Kings the satisfaction of coming from behind to take a point was marred slightly by the loss of Matt Hall after half an hour with what looks to be a concerning ankle injury. With influential playmaker Sam Murphy sidelined for up to six weeks, it’s a drain on Jordan Parkes’ compact squad that he could do without.

It was a case of cat and mouse for the first ten minutes until the home defence failed to pick up Louie Collier in space, but the predatory striker uncharacteristically put his shot over the bar. A reprieved Bedford stormed back and only a superb block by Matt Hall kept the scorer idle, but his game was to end when he fell awkwardly in a goalmouth melee and was helped off. Will Bishop came on and was to prove an able deputy for the next hour as the teams battled for supremacy. Both midfields were given little time on the ball and hence chances were at a minimum as the half ground to a close.

The second period was to have an explosive start as Kings lost possession, the ball was played to Lynton Goss with his back to goal and the in-form striker improvised with a backheel to open the scoring. Roared on by a large crowd, the Eagles went for the jugular and previous Langley teams might have folded (and indeed did) in such an atmosphere, but this emerging squad are made of sterner stuff and battled back with a Freddie Buers shot fumbled by Mark Smith before hooked clear. Unable to create any artistry in a savage midfield, both teams had now resorted to long ball tactics, but it was from a cultured move that Kings equaliser was to arrive. Sonny French played a telling wing pass to the overlapping Shaun Keane and the wing back did well to cross from the bye-nine and pick out Eagles’ former favourite Rene Howe. When the striker was unceremoniously flattened in the area, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. An interesting decision to have Louie Collier take the penalty instead of the regular Rene Howe resulted in atonement for the number 7 as he blasted the ball past Smith and suddenly it was Kings’ turn to ask the questions. There was a late chance for Jack Green, but his header went past the post and with Juliusz Pazio in fine form in goal, the five minutes of added time produced little incident as honours ended even.

Roy Mitchard