Kings Langley joint-manager Richie Hanlon believes the second half of the season will be harder than the first now his top-of-the-table side are there to be shot at.

After winning promotion last season, Kings ended 2014 top of the Premier Division and with a three-point lead over second-placed Sun Sports thanks to a 6-1 win at Leverstock Green on Saturday.

And having surpassed all expectations to be top of the table going into the new year, Hanlon is adamant the second half of the campaign will provide a sterner challenge for his side.

He explained: “I just think the teams below us are really going to put the pressure on now and that is why the second half of the season will be harder.

“You often see teams come up through the play-offs in the Championship and because they have got momentum and positivity, they do really well.

“If we were a little bit of an unknown quantity before, then teams know all about us now; they know our style of play and they know who our danger-men are and they won't be caught out again.”

Hanlon added: “The lads will just have to be aware of the fact teams will put in that extra ten per cent. It is like in the FA Cup where a small team gets drawn against Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea. The other team has to raise their game and play as hard as possible just to get a result.”

On Saturday Kings fell behind to Leverstock Green after just two minutes. A long ball forward by Levy was headed on by Gareth Long and although goalkeeper Charlie Crowley thought he’d tipped it wide, the linesman signalled for a goal.

The Kings response was devastating though, with Alex Campana and Daryl Atkins both grabbing braces before half time to put Kings in a commanding 4-1 lead at the break.

Nick Jackson snatched a fifth shortly after the restart, before Jack Johnson rounded off the scoring late on to end the year in fine style.

Reflecting on the resounding win, Hanlon said: “We had to kick on from the week before because we lost to Tring and it was our first defeat in ages – I think it was just one of those games.

“But Leverstock Green; a local derby and they had some good players – we were really impressed. But once Alex Campana got on his game you could see the result coming – though not the amount of goals.

“The boys played very well on a difficult pitch but it is the same for everyone. It was a very pleasing end to the year. It has been a pleasing year for the club on and off the pitch and it is just a nice feeling.”

He added: “I think we are now going to see some of the bigger, more established teams – your Berkos and Hertfords for example – really coming at us in the second half of the season.”

Next up for Kings is a visit from London Tigers on Saturday, whilst Levy travel to Ampthill Town.