We have to be on top of our game, says Langton

ASHFORD TOWN assistant Hugo Langton predicts Saturday’s home game against fellow play-off challengers Metropolitan Police will be a belter, writes Stephen McCartney.

Langton, who has previously coached Gillingham (ladies), Rusthall and Holmesdale, watched the Met leapfrog over Cray Wanderers into second place in the Ryman League Division One South table on Tuesday night.

The boys in blue impressed during their 2-1 win at Hayes Lane, and Langton was in attendance to see Jim Cooper’s side race into a 2-0 lead, through two breakaway goals from left-sided midfielder Jamie Byatt and striker Scott Forrester.

The out-of-sorts Wands missed a first half penalty when Jamie Wood’s driven spot-kick was saved by the diving Mo Maan, but Ian Jenkins’ side did pull a goal back in the 59^th minute when substitute Tommy Whitnell bundled in his eleventh goal of the season.

Unlike most scouts, Langton stayed to watch every minute of the Hayes Lane bash - and was very impressed with what he saw.

And he warned that his side, unbeaten in twelve games, have to be wary of Metropolitan Police hitting them on the break when the two sides meet at The Homelands on Saturday.

“Metropolitan Police are a hard working and very organised side,” Langton told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today.

“They like to attack quickly and in numbers and have some quality players.

“It could be a real belter on Saturday and we are really looking forward to it. We will need to be at the top of our game.””

The top of the table, meanwhile, is so tight, although Kingstonian, on 50 points, hold the advantage when it comes to finishing in the one and only automatic promotion spot.

The K’s have four games in hand over Metropolitan Police (46 points) and Fleet Town and Cray Wanderers follow on 45 points apiece, with the Nuts & Bolts, who occupy the final play-off berth, two points behind.

But Worthing (42, Sittingbourne (42) and Walton & Hersham (40), are capable of making a dash above the dotted line.

“As for the play-off’s, I think anyone of the current top ten could finish in the mix,” said Langton. “It’s a very tough league and all of the top ten are capable of putting a run together to put themselves in the mix.”

And with plenty money behind Croydon Athletic, who at this moment in time are 14 points adrift of Ashford Town in fourteenth place, Langton feels they’ve left it just too late to mount a charge.

He added, ““If any team outside the top ten could make a late bid for the play-off’s it’s Croydon Athletic, but they may have left it just a bit too late.”

Visit Ashford Town’s website: www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk

Ashford Town v Metropolitan Police
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 31^st January 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Homelands, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ