A busy summer has seen Steve Heath assemble an impressive squad with the emphasis on
experience and the excitement was palpable as a new campaign kicked off in the Spartan
South Midlands Premier, ten years after Kings departed as champions. There was a return for
five previous Langley stalwarts - Louie Collier, Gary Connolly, Kyle Connolly, Connor Toomey
and Kieran Turner, together with the signing of five players who have each amassed over 300
career appearances at Step 4 or above.
Referee Luke Burford got the game under way and an understandably cautious approach by
both teams saw Rovers look the more dangerous, despite them only registering the first on
target shot of the game on the thirty minute mark. Five minutes later a routine coming together
for a high ball left visiting keeper Ryan Hammond prostrate with a facial wound and a nine
minute break for attention ensued. The keeper declared himself fit to continue but was sold
short on a back pass a couple of minutes later, allowing the predatory Louie Collier to seize on
the mistake and send a low drive into the far corner of the net.
Wormley came out for the second period with renewed resolve and were level within forty
seconds as Matt Walsh broke through the middle and put a square pass to Shay Darcheville,
who side-footed home from close range. Stung into action, Kings upped the tempo and a
Louie Collier cross was blazed over the bar by a Kieran Turner volley, before a repeat of the
move saw Turner’s shot blocked, but Kyle Connolly follow up to pick his spot with a low drive
through a crowded box to restore the lead. It was all Kings now and five minutes later
Connolly’s pace took him to a ball he had no right to reach at the same time as the luckless
Hammond, with the resultant penalty tucked away by the wing back via the keepers
outstretched fingertips.
The manager introduced four of his substitutes (or finishers as Sarina Wiegman so nicely puts
it) over the next quarter of an hour and all acquitted themselves well as the game drew to a
seemingly routine close. However, there was one twist to the tale as the fifth and final minute
of time added ebbed away, when visiting skipper Louie Offer tapped in a corner with virtually
the last kick of the match, to the probable annoyance of the home management and to reward
Wormley’s contribution to an entertaining opener with some consolation and a somewhat
flattering scoreline.
So ended a run of eight home games without a win stretching back to the 4-0 victory over
Leverstock Green in January and reinforce the feeling of long suffering fans that this is indeed
the beginning of a new era under astute management.