New-look North Leigh thrashed in Hertfordshire

Kings Langley 5-1 North Leigh

A patched-up North Leigh side suffered a 5-1 defeat to Kings Langley on Saturday, with Samuel Murphy scoring a hat-trick for the hosts.

Despite Michael Hopkins’s equaliser soon after the opener, it was a tough afternoon for the Millers, recovering from the double blow of having their promotion hopes ended by the FA, followed by a mass exodus of players.

Louie Collier and Rayan Clarke also scored for the home side, who keep alive faint hopes of making the play-offs.

North Leigh themselves are still fourth, only a point behind Biggleswade Town and Waltham Abbey, but as announced a couple of weeks ago they cannot be promoted to step 3 after failing ground grading last season.

That announcement was followed by several players leaving the club, with most of the men who had joined them from Thame United in the summer reuniting with Mark West in his new post at Risborough Rangers.

The Millers announced five new signings ahead of the game of whom four – Timmy Mungall, Finley Baker, Cameron Mills and Kenny Watson – started here, although former Milton United and Didcot Town goalkeeper Mungall had already signed for the club a few weeks ago.

Kings Langley may have smelt blood and they were quick to jump on the front foot. Skipper Murphy put them ahead just inside the first 15 minutes, scoring at the back post from a Michael Gabblah cross.

North Leigh’s response was almost immediate with their captain equalising. Connor Barrett’s free-kick found Hopkins unmarked on the right side of the box and the veteran made no mistake.

That would be as good as it got though. Murphy grabbed a second after Collier was allowed time on the ball before crossing. Ten minutes after that, Collier himself got the third after working his way into a scoring position.

Collier would have three more chances to extend the score, going wide twice and denied one-on-one by Mungall. But Rene Howe really should have got the fourth just before the break, heading over from close range with the goal gaping.

The second half would again prove tough for North Leigh’s inexperienced, patched-together side. Mungall was frequently called into action, but striker Watson had a rare sight of goal after a beautiful through ball. His shot however was straight at Gabriel Ortelli.

The hosts thought they had their fourth with Howe heading in a Gabblah cross, but the flag was up for offside. Howe was quickly thwarted two more times, with Mungall saving before a clearance off the line.

The former Football League striker turned provider for the fourth goal though, cutting back to Murphy to complete his hat-trick. Substitute Clarke then put the cherry on top for the Hertfordshire side, firing into the top corner in the final minute.

An afternoon to forget for Dan Nolan’s men. They return to action next Saturday at home to Stotfold.

Kings Langley (4-3-3): Ortelli; Ball, Hall, Odogwu-Atkinson, Gabblah; Pedro, Murphy, Luke (Smith 63’); Adu-Poku (Johnson 75’), Howe, Collier (Clarke 63’). Unused subs: Bishop, Akinbusoye.

North Leigh (4-1-4-1): Mungall; Groves, Peart, Hopkins, Baker; Mills; Barrett, Williams, Branker (Herbert 87’), Heritage (Smith HT); Watson (Harding 78’).

Goals: Murphy 14’, 24’, 82’, Collier 34’, Clarke 90’; Hopkins 17’.

Booked: Ball 52′, Murphy 56’, Smith 67’; Baker 58’, Hopkins 70’.

Attendance: 124.