Unfortunately, unrelenting gale force winds spoilt this top six clash between two sides
who try to play interpassing fast flowing football, as those present at the reverse fixture
a mere eleven days ago will testify. Josh Coldicott-Stevens regained a starting role in
place of the injured Dylan Switters and Andronicos Georgiou returned on the bench
after the illness that kept him out against Salisbury. The Blues played with the wind in
their favour in the first half and got the first real chance after twenty minutes when Mikel
Platt was foiled by a superb Callum Adebiyi tackle as he pulled the trigger. Jacob Cook
almost got Stevie Ward through at the other end five minutes later, but Kings were
finding the wind an effective twelfth opponent and the home side came close when a
Junior Eldstal header grazed the bar and a forty yard power shot by Nesta Guinness-Walker was just over. But with half time in sight, the pressure finally told as an Ethan
Chislett shot was deflected into the net via the post by Luke Robertson for what was
ultimately to prove the winner.
With weather conditions now marginally in their favour, Kings had by far the better of
second half possession, but the sheer unpredictability of the path of the ball was
frustrating both sides and the game took on an edge as a solid looking Langley back
line caught home forwards offside on several occasions and Police strived to protect
their slender advantage. Rene Howe was just wide with a shot, Jacob Cook combined
with Stevie Ward to finish off a flowing move only to be ruled offside and a dipping Josh
Coldicott-Stevens free kick was deflected for a corner . When the ball was on the
ground, both showed the kind of play that they are capable of, but those were brief
interludes and an ever increasing cast of balls spent far too much time in the air, some
exiting the pitch area as if in protest. Mitchell Weiss just failed to get round Bertie
Schotterl from a tight angle to salvage a deserved draw, but it was the Blues that had
the last chance when Oliver Knight shot wide on the break with virtually the last kick of
a disappointing match.