Kings bounced back from the narrow loss at Met. Police last week to keep on the edge of the playoffs and avenge the heavy defeat at Wimborne back in October. This was despite a below par
performance that saw the Magpies have far the better of the first half and was owed to a fortunate
rebound off the goalkeeper that gave Rene Howe the opportunity to settle the points for Kings.
With Dylan Switters possibly ruled out of the run in through injury, Steve Conroy moved to bring in
Irish youth international Connor Smith on a short term loan from Billericay Town and he went
straight into the starting line-up.
Wimborne were first out of the starting blocks and penned Kings in with attacking wing play that
was to trouble Gary Connolly and Charlie O’Keefe all afternoon. Kings actually created the first real
chance when a Rene Howe chip was met on the volley by Andronicos Georgiou, bringing a good
save from Gerard Benfield, but when the Magpies’ prolific striker Tobias Holmes was through on
goal, it seemed that the visitors would take the lead, but he dragged the ball wide of both Alex
Tokarczyk and post. The keeper was called into action soon after to bravely save at the feet of Carl
Pettefer and the home side were relieved to reach the interval on level terms as it became apparent
that over half the side were having a collective off-day.
Fortunately, the central defensive pairing of Jorell Johnson and Callum Adebiyi looked as
impenetrable as ever, ably backed by Alex Tokarczyk and as the second half started in much the
same fashion, it seemed that hitting on the break was Langley’s best option. So it proved, but in
somewhat bizarre circumstances, as Connor Smith, finding his debut difficult due to the lack of
cohesion around him, put a measured through ball to Rene Howe, whose under pressure shot was
blocked by the body of the advancing Benfield. Unfortunately for the keeper, the rebound spun in a
looping arc off his shoulder and fell in apparent slow motion to Howe, who controlled the
unpredictable ball with one touch before driving it between two defenders into the unguarded net.
Wimborne’s frustrations at being behind threatened to boil over, but when their 29 goal marksman
Tobias Holmes missed a golden opportunity for parity with a header over the bar, he knew that he
too was having an off-day and Kings progressed with precious little further drama to the final whistle
of a match that will only be remembered for the result, not the content.