Kings miss play-offs by a point, but sixth is highest finish ever!

The curtain came down on a remarkable season that saw Kings finish sixth, by far
their best position at Step 3 and miss the play-offs by a single point. Although it was
still possible to qualify, Poole Town reaped the expected three points at crisis club
Staines Town to render the match somewhat meaningless, being five up by half
time and there was to be no last day tensions in front of a large crowd. Whatever
the outcome, it has been a hugely successful season for Steve Conroy’s team who
started as relegation favourites in August and seemed to be justifying that
prediction up until October, before finding their form and soaring up the table.
There was a presentation to crowd favourite Callum Adebiyi who was making his
300th appearance for Kings Langley on the day, before Kings got off to the perfect
start against relegated Frome Town, with Stevie Ward bundled over in the box and
getting up to convert the fourth minute penalty. Previous to that, Rene Howe had
forced Rob Brown into a good save from a quickly taken free kick and it looked as if
a one sided affair may develop. But the Robins dug in and contained an
interpassing Kings until the second period without ever really threatening the home
defence.
Langley upped the pace and Jorell Johnson had a header rebound back off the
bar, while a forceful run through a retreating defence by Rene Howe lifted the
crowd before the final angle became too acute. A frantic season was drifting to an
uncharacteristically serene end when Josh Coldicott-Stevens pulled back a low
cross from the right and the predatory Mitchell Weiss made his presence felt in a
crowded box to stab the ball home from close range and when the referee signalled
the end right on ninety minutes, Kings were able to reflect on an intriguing season
that will go into the history book as one of the most successful ever.