KING CAL BLOWS BORO AWAY

This was Kings first opening day victory since promotion to the Southern League, as new manager Dean Barker got off to a flying start with an emphatic win at newly relegated Nuneaton Borough. Kings find themselves in the Premier Central division following their lateral move from the Premier South, so there was a sense of excited expectancy for a new season, with new opponents, new Committee members, and a new management team.

There were six new signings making their debuts alongside the experienced spine of last season’s successful team and Kings took the first ten minutes to settle against some pacy forward play and a 60 mph gale force wind. When they did finally put Boro under pressure it was to devastating effect as Charlie Ruff robbed a hesitant defender and his shot cannoned off the post, rebounding to Matty Campbell-Mhlope, whose shot was cleared off the line. This was to prove a brief respite for the home team though, as from an ensuing corner, Mitchell Weiss rose above a static defence to head home Kane Farrell’s cross and open the Kings’ account. The wind was making life difficult for both teams, but when Boro’s Devon Kelly-Evans followed a driving central run with a powerful shot, debutant keeper Melvin Minter flew full length to tip the
ball over the bar. Kings could have doubled their advantage by the break, but made a complete hash of things when keeper Cam Belford missed a routine low cross, leaving Eoin McKeown with the goal at his mercy. The striker contrived to hit the post, the ball fell to the equally unmarked Jorell Johnson, who slipped at the vital moment and his team-mate’s second shot hit his grounded colleague!

The half finished with a quality attacking interpassing move ending with a Weiss shot just over the bar, but Boro thought they’d equalised upon resumption when Stuart Beavon wriggled through the defence only to see his low shot meet a late save from Minter. A powerful break by Mitchell Weiss saw him evade some strong attention to beat Belford but have his shot was blocked on the line, while Minter was in action again to just get a hand to a shot on the run by Callum Powell. However, the defining moment of the match arrived on 72 minutes. Both defences had had to rely on huge upfield clearances to relieve pressure and beat the wind and it seemed to be just one more when Callum Adebiyi launched the ball forward from his own half. But this one looked special from the moment it left his foot and it sailed majestically over the back-pedalling keeper and under the bar to become an early season contender for goal of the season. With Kings back five in outstanding form, there was no way back for the home side and their bad day at the office was compounded when a poor back pass allowed substitute Harry Crawford to beat Belford to the ball and steer home the third, while Nigel Julien was shown a straight red for an unacceptable tackle on Josh Coldicott-Stevens intime added on. For Kings however, it was a day to remember!

By Roy Mitchard

After the match, Kings Langley manager Dean Barker said:
"Great win for everyone involved in the club today. So proud of all the players to come to the title favourites and totally dominate was brilliant to see. Fantastic start to the season!"