Kings of the Road

Kings were boosted by the much heralded signing of former Watford favourite Lloyd Doyley and all his experience from his 443 appearances for the Hornets was in evidence as, with Callum Adebiyi, he effectively muzzled the threat of Banbury’s talisman Ricky Johnson and prolific ex-Hereford striker John Mills. Skipper Jorell Johnson moved into defensive midfield to accommodate and Josh Coldicott-Stevens probably felt unlucky to drop to the bench. The Puritans started at pace, with a series of raids down the right and dominated the opening ten, but Melvin Minter coped well with a series of powerful punches when under severe pressure and Kings signalled their intentions when a sweet wing ball from Doyley resulted in Eoin McKeown’s shot rippling the outside top of the netting. A Jorell Johnson shot was just wide as Kings upped the pressure and a Charlie Ruff free kick saw a powerful Callum Adebiyi header brilliantly saved by Jack Harding, but the visitors were not to be denied as they conjured up a goal of pure quality as the interval beckoned. Charlie Ruff picked up the ball under pressure on the right wing, turned inside and seemed likely to play the obvious ball out to the left wing. Instead he clipped a penetrating through ball with the outside of his right foot to the anticipating Matty Campbell-Mhlope, who controlled it in full flight, eluded the defender and slipped it past Harding, all seemingly in one movement. Banbury were stunned and their only effort of note in reply came as the half closed with a Claudio Dias long shot well over. The second half was five minutes old when John Mills at last beat Callum Adebiyi, going on to deliver a lob over Minter, but seeing the effort hit the bar and scrambled to safety. Langley surged back and both Campbell-Mhlope and Charlie Ruff curled dipping shots just wide of the mark from quick-fire interpassing breaks involving the front four, before the game settled a little as both sides eyed the vital next goal. When it came, it was surprisingly simple, as Jorell Johnson lofted the ball out to Eoin McKeown on the right wing and his low cross was slid home by Campbell-Mhlope at the far post. Any thoughts that the mission was accomplished were soon dispelled as United sent on Jannai Gordon for John Mills and he proved more effective, a direct wing run and cut inside only being denied by a superb saving tackle from Lloyd Doyley. Mitchell Weiss, who had worked tirelessly all afternoon to take pressure off the two widemen behind him, came close to a just reward when his run, cut in and shot was ended on the line, but Gordon set up a tense finale when he headed home Connor Roberts cross and Kings had to resort to some desperate defending for the next five minutes. But a swelteringly hot afternoon finally came to a close after seven minutes of additional time due to drinks breaks and a jubilant Langley had remained unbeaten after four consecutive away games. Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz, ‘There’s no place like home’ – Kings know better!