Report by Callum Humphrey

Kings Langley closed out a year of home football in style, claiming their first victory in 10 matches in all competitions in their final game at The Orbital Fasteners Stadium of 2024.

They overcame Real Bedford in what was a festive thriller, and a fantastic way for Jordan Parkes’ side to get back on track. The Pirates came into the tie in tremendous form, second in the league, and the meeting with Kings offered a chance for them to climb to the summit as their game in hand over Berkhamsted, having not lost in the league since August.

Contrastingly, Kings’ last win prior to Tuesday evening felt like a distant memory, coming back in October against Stotfold. They hadn’t won at home since the Herts Cup victory over Tring Athletic earlier that month, and not in the league since triumphing over Northwood on the 21st September.

The win, then, came as a early Christmas surprise for everyone at the club, and Parkes will hope his side can build on the victory, and the performance, with another pair of positive displays in their two remaining away fixtures before the turn of the year - at Beaconsfield on Saturday and Enfield the following week.

The three points were by no means a fluke, with Kings battling hard and deserving everything they got. There was a goal again for Bradley Smith, equalising after his side had fallen behind, and James Towell and Darnell Luke also put their name on the scoresheet to put Kings into a shock 3-1 lead.

They defended resolutely, silencing the Real Bedford attack, and there was another impressive showing from loanee Ali Gould as part of a back three that thwarted their opposition determinedly. A late consolation conceded from a corner added some unnecessary panic, but ultimately the hosts got over the line and that was all that mattered.

A windy Tuesday night was in store, although the fleeting rain that arrived during the warm-ups resented before kick-off. Kings threatened with a couple of set pieces in what was a relatively quiet opening period and it seemed they had the league’s leading scorers under control, but the first decisive moment fell to the Pirates inside the 24th minute.

Moving the ball quickly from right to left, Tyrique Ward found himself with some excess space on the edge of the area. His shot was well saved by Kings keeper Adisorn Connolly, but the rebound fell kindly to Thomas Hitchcock, who tapped home into the deserted net with no defender following him to give his side the lead inside the 24th minute.

James Towell grazed the crossbar with a cross-cum-shot in the 32nd minute, but otherwise Kings were posing little threat to the Real Bedford lead at this stage in proceedings.

Some strong challenges were flying in, and James Towell was followed into the referee’s book by Thomas Hitchcock, Drew Richardson and Henry Burt.

Kings opted to go man-for-man with their visitors, hoping to nick possession high up the pitch and punish, and the plan was performed to perfection in the 38th minute when Juud Farrant stole it on the left-hand wing. He squared to Bradley Smith, and a man in his form was never likely to miss, slotting into the bottom corner comfortably to bring the hosts back on level terms.

Half-time came at 1-1; plenty to play for as the sides headed to the changing rooms, with Kings perhaps holding the momentum after responding well to Hitchcock’s opener.

The league’s 12th-placed side Kings were succeeding in their plan to frustrate the promotion-chasing Pirates, and their hard work paid off when they were gifted the lead in the 64th minute.

Real Bedford keeper Tyler McGregor made a mess of a routine collection on the edge of the area, spilling straight into the path of James Towell who gratefully tucked away his fourth league goal of the season. A premature Christmas gift, if you will.

Instantly though, the Pirates responded, and it took a fine triple-save from Connolly in the Kings net to keep them at bay just a few moments later.

But the home side stood strong and it was them who further seized the initiative in the 74th minute. A Lance Williams corner caused problems for the Real Bedford defence, who were unable to clear, and when it fell to Darnell Luke in the six-yard box he wasted no time in thumping it home to put his side into a commanding two-goal lead.

The three-man Kings’ defence of Charne Lemba, Ali Gould and Isaac Pedro did an excellent job in nullifying the Pirates’ attacking weapons, and the whole team dug in for a determined performance that would have been exactly what Head Coach Jordan Parkes was looking for.

However, there was some late drama as Drew Richardson put Kings hearts in mouths, burying an open header in second-half stoppage time to leave the visitors with a couple of minutes to try and steal a point.

But try as they might, Real Bedford could not break through and missed their chance to move to top of the table, with Kings seeing out a superb display with the three points they deserved.

The win moves Kings back into the top half of the table and they now head to Beaconsfield Town on Saturday, hoping that victories come like London buses and they can secure back-to-back league successes for only the second time this season.