Risborough stumble as Kings Langley and Tring Athletic surge

For much of the opening weeks Risborough Rangers looked the team to catch in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division, and their community matchday against Wormley Rovers only added to the sense of momentum. A 5-1 win in front of a record online ticket sale of 176 claimed tickets capped what the club called a five-star second-half performance, with Wormley Rovers admitting afterwards that a red card had changed the game but paying credit to the hosts, saying they would be hard to catch if they kept up that form.

But the run came to an end in midweek at Kings Langley, who described their opponents as early season title favourites before the game and then produced a performance to match, holding on for a 2-1 win with Haf Al Droubi picking up the Saracens Head Man of the Match award for a string of saves at vital moments. It was a result that followed a very different outcome days earlier, when Kings Langley had gone down 2-1 away to Baldock Town, a game in which Jethro Hanson was named Carfella Man of the Match despite the defeat. Kings Langley now travel to face fourth-placed Tring Athletic in what both clubs are billing as a big A41 derby, with a large away following expected.

Tring Athletic arrive in form after a run the club themselves likened to a winning hand of cards: five consecutive victories, fourteen goals scored and only one conceded. Their latest success came against Harlow Town, beaten 3-0 at the Michael Anthony Stadium through goals from George Devine, Max Hercules and Harry Jones, in front of a crowd of 235, their highest gate of the season alongside the Aylesbury Vale Dynamos derby. Luke Peerless took the Man of the Match award for an all-action display in midfield.

Elsewhere, Baldock Town's win over Kings Langley was followed by a heavy 5-1 defeat away at Potton United, who have now won three in a row, with Lamin Bangura and Alie Bangura both earning Man of the Match recognition in recent weeks. Enfield were also among the goals, thrashing Harlow Town 7-1 away on the back of a 2-2 draw with Biggleswade United to leave the top of the table looking rather more unsettled than it did a fortnight ago.