Kings Langley Ladies get off the mark in derby day draw

Kings had two early chances with Kim Nield shooting wide as they started the game on the front foot.

In an end to end first half, debutante keeper Abbie Tarsey recovered well after the ball had evaded her gloves, while under physical pressure form the visitors.

The breakthrough came after 11 minutes when Mary Hogan’s bouncing shot confounded the packed 18-yard box and went in off the far post.

Both sides were getting into their stride, with Nield’s breaks causing the visitors issues, while Tarsey cleared after winning a one-on-one battle.

Hogan nearly doubled her side’s lead after 32 minutes, seeing her glancing header flash agonisingly wide of the far post.

The second half saw Evergreen step things up, with Kings’ makeshift defence putting in a shift with some great last ditch tackling, coupled with more good work from Tarsey.

April Langton’s shot went close, while Nicole Barrett’s header from a corner went just wide.

Nield and then Barrett had another couple of good chances to score; the visiting keeper pulling off two great saves to deny them.

This gave the visitors the confidence they needed to push for the equaliser, which they got with 70 minutes on the clock as Becky Freeman’s piledriver from range gave the keeper no chance.

“This was a fair result,” said Kings Langley Ladies club secretary Chris Walker.

“It was an unfamiliar line-up, with four debutantes and a makeshift back-line so the ladies did really well, battling hard all the way.

“Also encouraging was that we did create quite a few chances, but you do need to take those.

“Overall it was a very encouraging performance for our first game back in Division Three.”

Kings Langley Ladies FC are back in action on Sunday when they face Houghton Athletic FC. Kick off is at 2pm at High Street Green, Adeyfield.