Arlesey came to Kings Langley with an impressive opening run of seven wins and two draws
from their first nine, but Kings are on a roll and personified confidence and character to
dismantle that record and register their fourth consecutive League win.
Steve Heath has settled on an exciting blend of experience and youth in the League campaign
and the only changes were the introduction of new signing Joe Dearman for Harry Peterson
and Henry Dudley narrowly getting the starting nod over Liam Greville.
There was an explosive start as Edu put Kings ahead in the third minute following a long
throw in by Joe Fitzgerald and an overhead flick on by Kieran Turner, but within sixty seconds
the visitors equalised through their own number nine, Jordan Brown. Fast forward another
minute and Louie Collier broke clear and judged his angle perfectly to beat Ollie Skinner. The
amazing sequence almost continued from restart when Town’s Ezra Forde headed over when
well placed and players and spectators were finally able to draw breath after such a frantic
intro.
Both sides were intent on fast flowing football as the game swung from end to end, but the
only real moment of drama came when Edu had his legs whipped from under him in the box,
but despite looking like a stonewall penalty decision, the referee was content to play on. While
the pace never varied and further goals looked likely, Kings were in the ascendency and
Turner’s clever wing pass to Collier saw him advance along the byline almost to the near post
before sending in a low cross that against the odds, refused to go in.
As half time approached, another home raid resulted in Louie Collier brought down in the box
and this time the Assistant intervened to advise the referee that the foul merited a spot kick,
which Collier duly dispatched with ease. The half finally closed with a tremendous sliding
block by Alfie Osborne denying Arlesey an interval lifeline.
Typically, the second half did not match the first for incident, but an absorbing contest kept the
crowd entertained and while Kings were content to hold their opponents at bay, it was Joe
Dearman who came closest to increasing the lead with a wing run and shot that Skinner did
well to parry to safety. As the visitors efforts to salvage their record became more desperate
the home back four and midfield pair were magnificent, throwing their bodies on the line and
topped by a flying save from Charlie Crowley as the end approached. Fittingly, it was Kings
who had the final word, a minute into time added, with a venomous Henry Dudley shot from
the right wing to complete a statement victory that leaves them a point off the play-offs.