Kings Langley’s unbeaten start to 2023 came to an end on Saturday when they were beaten 2-1 at Rushall Olympic in one of the few non-league games to beat the freeze in the Southern League Premier Central Division.

Chris Winton’s side had come from behind to equalise through Sam Okoye-Ahaneku midway through the first half, but a second goal from the hosts at the end of the first half proved enough for third-placed Rushall to take the points.

After a quiet opening, the home side made the breakthrough in the 12th minute when Jorell Johnson lost possession in his own half and the ball was pounced on by Andre Landell. His run seemed to have been halted by Sami Bessadi, but he too lost possession and the persistent Landell’s low cross was turned into his own net by James Kaloczi.

Langley have a chance to equalise straight from the kick off, as Wilson De Carvalho was played through by Andronicos Georgiou, but the pass took him too wide and his effort was comfortably blocked by the keeper.

But Kings did pull level on 24 minutes as Okoye-Ahaneku latched onto a long ball by Kaloczi and his touch took him away from two defenders and into the box. Out-rushing keeper Jacob Weaver managed to get to the ball, but his parry was straight to Okoye-Ahaneku who slotted home from a tight angle.

The Pics had a chance to regain the advantage soon after when Landell was played through one on one with Jack Berman, but his low effort went wide of the post.

But with the first half coming to a close, Rushall did take the lead again after a delightful cross from Sam Mantom was met by Will Shorrock, who headed past Berman.

The first real chance of the second half came in the 67th minute when a diving header from Rushall’s captain Rich Batchelor hit the crossbar, and three minutes late they hit the woodwork again with a curling effort from substitute Miguel Ngwa.

It was Kings’ turn to rattle the frame of the goal minutes later, as a fierce strike from Georgiou was just tipped onto the crossbar by Weaver. Despite the touch the referee and his assistant decided not to give the keeper credit for his super save, and awarded a goal kick, much to the displeasure of the travelling Langley fans Ken Feyi was bought on, and had the chance to equalise when a low cross from Alex Lafleur was nicely played into the box in between the defenders and the keeper. With Feyi arriving at the back post, it looked like a slide would have ended with the ball in the back of the net, but the ball whizzed out of play.

With the game coming to a close and Langley pushing for an equaliser, a mistake on the halfway line by Okoye-Ahaneku was picked up by Ngwa who charged into the box, Isaac Galliford managed to get back, but took out the forward as he tried to beat him and conceded a penalty.

Alex Fletcher stepped up but was denied by Berman, who dived to his right to hold the ball, but time was up for Langley as they missed the opportunity to move further away from danger.

With a chance to secure the points for the home side, Alex Fletcher stepped up but was denied by Jack Berman who dives down to his right and holds onto the ball. However, time was up for Langley as they fell to defeat on an afternoon where they probably deserved something more out of the game.