So it was back to FA Cup action for me at the weekend when I visited the Hertfordshire village of Kings Langley to see if Sporting Bengal United to spring a surprise and make more history in this famous old competition.
The hosts had been fairly used to success in the last three years, winning two promotions on the spin to ply their trade in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier, Step three in the non league pyramid, and they were up against a side who play in Step Five football in the Essex Senior League who had enjoyed a decent historic making cup run so far.
However if the visitors were to have any chance of a surprise result a good start to the tie would be crucial. Sadly this didn’t happen as the hosts won a penalty after six mins when David Vaughan brought down full back Steve Ward after the Langley player had made a good run down the right. Lewis Toomey stepped up to convert the spot kick and the hosts had their early goal to settle any nerves they might have had.
Sporting almost responded straight away however when they saw Shibli Miah’s effort palmed away by Danny Boness as they looked to shock their hosts with a quick repost, however if you go one nil down the last thing you want to do is fall further behind but this is exactly what happened to Sporting as on nine minutes good work down the left by winger Oran Swales saw his cross deflected high into the air and saw David Hutton volley a first time effort from the edge of the box expertly into the top corner and the visitors already had a mountain to climb.
It was just the start the hosts would have dreamed of whilst for Sporting it was exactly what they had not wanted. However the visitors were far from being outplayed and were doing ok despite the scoreline but would need to find an extra something if they were going to get back into the contest.
The hosts unsurprisingly had a bit extra going forward and Toomey almost had his second when he got in on goal but saw Lewis Lockyer save but then moments later Toomey really should of netted when after getting through again he rounded Lockyer and saw the ball roll on and hit the post but the strikers rebound effort flew across an unguarded net and away from danger.
However Toomey made amends five minutes before the break when he volleyed home from close range and saw the hosts go into the break three goals to the good. The visitors had battled and competed well but just found the higher league opponents clinical up front when it mattered.
Half Time Kings Langley 3 Sporting Bengal United 0
Sporting knew an early goal may give them hope of an unlikely comeback and they certainly started the half well, having a couple of efforts on goal, and then six minutes into the second period they found that goal when Miah found himself in behind the Langley defence and he slotted beyond Boness and into the far corner.
Sporting knew if they could force another goal it really would make it an interesting tie but the hosts were not about to be surprised like that and soon forced visiting keeper Lockyer into action when the stopper had to be smart to palm a hosts effort away for a corner as they looked to try and re-establish their three goal cushion.
And just before the hour mark the hosts struck twice in two minutes to end any slight hope the visitors had of a comeback when firstly on 56 minutes they did restore their three goal lead when Ryan Plowright turned home from close range and then on 58 minutes Hutton curled home a delightful effort beyond Lockyer from just inside the box to see the hosts in a very commanding position at 5-1 up with half an hour or so left.
To Sporting’s credit they kept going when many would of possibly just thrown in the towel and struck another effort wide just on the hour mark. They were still competing well but just could not deal with the hosts attacking prowess and they almost conceded a sixth when Sean Coughlan, on as a substitute for the hosts, found himself in on goal but his finish hit the inside of post.
With around twenty minutes to go Sporting were still going for a second goal as goalscorer Miah managed to break the offside trap but as he tried to cut back he lost the ball under a challenge and eventually fouled the defender trying to retrieve the lost ball. The hosts then got in down the left hand side as Sporting’s offside trap failed but keeper Lockyer came out to close the angle and see the ball eventually blocked behind for a corner.
The last ten minutes or so saw Sporting giving it a real good go in the rain that had now arrived in Hertfordshire but they were unable to really test keeper Boness to much and then with five minutes to go Toomey, who really should of wrapped up his hat-trick already, finally did just that when he got clean through and rounded Lockyer to slot home the hosts sixth and final goal.
So despite the visitors giving it a really good go in this tie they ultimately found the Southern Premier hosts just too strong on the day. It’s been a good cup run for the Sporting Bengal boys though and they should be proud of that fact. Well done to hosts Kings Langley though whose cup run continues in two weeks time.
Full Time Kings Langley 6 Sporting Bengal United 1
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