The Comedy of Errors

Kings Langley continued their saga of away trips with a visit to Shakespeare’s picturesque birthplace for a renewal of rivalries with Stratford Town. The encounter contained an element of farce as the Town conceded three goals from one-on-one situations, while Kings were similarly vulnerable to three set pieces. Joel Gyasi had a first time shot held by Melvin Minter after 45 seconds, but Langley made another poor start as a Mitchell Glover free kick out to the left wing was headed goalwards by Luis Morrison and finished from close range by Callum Ball. Once again, Kings responded with character to turn the game around with two goals in twelve minutes as Matty Campbell-Mhlope ran onto a long low through ball from Josh Coldicott-Stevens to win a clash with outcoming Sam Lomax and roll the ball into an empty net and then a perceptive Charlie Ruff lofted diagonal pass set Eoin McKeown free to beat the beleaguered keeper again. However, the visiting defence then demonstrated that they could be just as inept, as another Mitchell Glover free kick eluded every red shirt to give Lewis Wilson a simple sidefooted finish for the equaliser on 26 minutes. Town hit the woodwork two minutes later and only a superb tackle from Thomas Fishwick prevented Mitchell Weiss from capitalising from another break as the half ended with the crowd anticipating further goals after the interval. In the event, they had to wait longer than expected, as although Kings looked to be taking control of the game with chances for McKeown, Kane Farrell, Mitchell Weiss and Charley Ruff, interspersed with a spectacular flying save from Minter, they were unable to find a a way through a defence that seemed to have regained some composure. But on the hour they reverted to the through ball tactic and it worked again as Campbell-Mhlope sent a confident McKeown through to beat an exposed Lomax. Town showed little response until the last ten minutes when a Ball shot was finger-tipped onto the post by Minter and Nabil Shariff sent two chances over the bar. Kings still looked to have enough to hold out or even extend the lead as a Stevie Ward low shot was seen late but held by Lomax, but as the clock entered the final minute of normal time another free kick by their nemesis Glover was forced home from close range by substitute Chris Wreh. It was a disappointing outcome to a match that had seen Langley create an incredible 23 goalscoring opportunities, but that should be set against the fact that they remain unbeaten and have scored eight goals in three games – all while on the road!

By Roy Mitchard

After the game Kings Langley manager, Dean Barker said, "On reflection today we played very well. To create that amount of chances away from home and still leave disappointed shows how far we have come in such a short space of time.

Remember a few things:

1. We are still unbeaten
2. We have scored eight goals in three games
3. We haven’t played at home yet

It’s all positive from my point of view and we will only get stronger.

Learn from the mistakes and we will get better individually and as a group."