IN THE RIGHT BALL PARK

A seventh consecutive home game in the new year saw Kings renew acquaintance with Bedfordshire rivals Biggleswade Town, both teams with similar records and currently sitting comfortably mid table. The match began at pace and it was the Waders who made the early running, forcing a series of three corners in quick succession. Neither side was given time or space to settle on the ball, but in the eighteenth minute former Kings Langley playmaker Matt Ball opened the scoring with a stunning strike from outside the box that Melvin Minter did well to get his fingertips to, but could not prevent from entering the net. The Kings reply was immediate, as from the kick off, Jordan Parkes played in Will Hoskins, his shot took a deflection which Richard Walton adjusted to parry onto the post and Kyle Connolly followed in from the left to fire an angled shot into the far corner. The contest resumed at a competitive pace that took on an edge as some players demanded retribution for some challenges from the referee, who duly obliged with two home players booked before the break and a further one immediately after.

The half had closed with a Parkes 45 yarder just over and upon resumption, Kings survived a looping loose ball from a corner that was scrambled away. A Mitchell Weiss cross resulted in Stevie Ward’s volley hitting a defender on the line, countered by a Jon Edwards cross to Dylan Williams which saw the latter stumble when well placed. The card count was resumed in earnest on the hour with three visiting and one home player booked for various offences in a mere five minute spell that did not reflect the nature of the contest, which was remarkably similar to the previous game in which no players were cautioned. It was therefore somewhat inevitable that someone would pick up a second and when Corey Panter halted Stevie Ward’s wing run, the defender departed from the action. Almost immediately, Kyle Connolly was fouled slightly left of centre and Jordan Parkes stepped up to sublimely bend a free kick from all of thirty yards past the despairing Walton.

The Waders went to the end, but Kings managed out the game comfortably and could have extended the lead when Jorell Johnson broke through the middle, squared to Harry Crawford and Walton pulled off a good save for a corner. The keeper was in action again to deny Edu Toiny-Pendred in time added on when the young substitute burst clear, but the final whistle signalled a continuation of a fine run and the later news that Kings had won January’s Team of the Month in the Premier Central for their January exploits.

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