Another First Half Blitz - Hoddesdon Town vs. Kings Langley

Lowfield under lights

As I had now finished work, mid week games came back in to play. The fixtures weren't particularity  favourable in terms of visiting a new ground so I decided to revisit Hoddesdon Town for their Spartan South Midlands League Premier match with Kings Langley. I hadn't been to a game in this league for nearly two years so it was good to get back to this league and Hoddesdon's incredible match programme made it a good revisit. My previous visit to Hoddesdon had been for an FA Vase tie against Kirkley and Parkefield which from memory the away side won. I visited King Langley's Gaywood Park also on a Tuesday night for a South Midlands Division One game against Sun Postal Sports. Back to this season and Kings Langley were top of the table while Hoddesdon were in the lower reaches of the table. 

Kick off at Lowfield

Kings Langley attack from the off and the home keeper has to be alert early on to claim a driven cross in to the Hoddesdon area. The visitors then take an early lead as the forward is played in and he slots past the keeper to put his side one nil up. Hoddesdon first attack comes in the form of a free kick which the Kings Langley goalie claims. He then punts the ball forward to turn defence in to attack and this time the forward cannot find the target. The visitors continue to attack and they have a couple of half chances before they double their lead. The Hoddesdon defence fail to deal with a cross from the right flank and the Kings Langley player has an easy headed chance to make it two nil. Shortly afterwards the Hoddesdon keeper does well to save a deflected shot from distance and from the rebound the Kings Langley forward somehow manages to hit the bar. Just before the break the visitors make it three with a brilliant free kick from just outside the area.   

Kings Langley attack in the first half

Hoddesdon look to get back in to the game straight from the restart and when they get in on goal the Kings Langley defender just gets back to head off the line. The home keeper then almost gifts the visitors a fourth when spills a shot but he claims the ball at the second attempt. Hoddesdon should really score when the ball is chipped to the back post but the forward doesn't fully connect and the keeper makes an easy save. The home side do get back in to the game with a goal from the penalty spot. The Hoddesdon forward bursts in to the box and he taken down and the resulting penalty is powdered down the middle to make it three one. Kings Langley then almost restore their three goal advantage but the forward cannot take advantage when played in on goal.

A Hoddesdon move breaks down in the first half

The nearest station to Lowfields is Broxbourne. Trains to here depart from Liverpool Street and the journey takes around half an hour. From here it is about a twenty minute walk to Hoddesdon High Street. On the High Street there is The White Swan which would be good for the early kick off. A bit closer to the ground is The Golden Lion which is a bit more homely. The ground is then a five minute walk from the High Street. The clubhouse does the job and has Sky Sports. As I mentioned earlier, Hoddesdon produce an incredible match programme. Even on a Tuesday night, the programme was well over fifty pages.

Small wooden cover opposite the main stand