THE LLOYD LATE SHOW

A new decade began for Kings Langley at Hitchin Town’s Top Field ground on a cold but mercifully dry New Year’s Day. After the disappointment of a narrow Boxing Day defeat, Langley were looking to build on the previous two victories, while the Canaries were anxious to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat. Both sides began at pace, but soon slowed on a heavy pitch and as the match developed, evidently decided that they could not trust the aforementioned surface, resorting to keeping the ball in the air for as long as possible. The first chance fell to home striker Stephen Cawley, who should have done better with an effort past the post, before Kings responded with a Saul Williams’ shot deflected and follow ups by Stevie Ward and Mitchell Weiss blocked. Weiss brought a fine save out of Charlie Horlock soon after and a
promising move between Weiss, Williams and Ward came to an end in the arms of Horlock. Hitchin were having as much possession but were also lacking a cutting edge, emphasised by their best effort coming from a deflected drive by centre back Joe Gauge, although Lloyd
Doyley later had to make a superb saving tackle to preserve the status quo.

The Canaries anxiety had resulted in two bookings for poor tackles in the first half and their habit of berating the official came home to roost thirteen minutes into the second half when Ben Walster received his second yellow for a verbal outburst following a decision on a minor
incident. Kings could have taken immediate advantage, but Mitchell Weiss elected to square the ball when through and the recipient, Saul Williams did the same and the chance was gone. As is often the case, the ten men responded by upping their game and a sustained period of
pressure was finally ended by a superb save from Melvin Minter. The game, which had struggled to rise from the ranks of the mundane or entertain the crowd was not helped by the official having decided that he’d had enough and getting on to Langley’s case by carding three
Kings and two more Canaries for minor incidents, accompanied by minute long lectures to each. The visitors had gradually upped the tempo as the ninety minutes ground to a conclusion and a Jordan Parkes cross only needed a touch for the winner, but the same could be said for
a Bradley Bell cross at the other end a minute later. Still Kings poured forward, but with the clock signifying that four of the five extra minutes had been played, a goal-less draw seemed the inevitable outcome. Then Louie Collier received the ball in the inside left position and slipped a diagonal wing pass to Mitchell Weiss. Although the angle was acute and the box well populated, this time the striker chose to shoot and his powerful drive was blocked, but not held by Horlock. The rebound fell virtually at the feet of Lloyd Doyley and the right back converted
with ease to seal the three points and break Canary hearts. It was a fitting reward for the defender, who contested the Kings’ Man-of-the-Match award with Melvin Minter in a game that was never a classic, although that’s probably to be expected when the players are expected to
play two games in five days over a festive period.