On-loan Watford striker Jonathan Lawson scored twice as Kings Langley secured their first points of the new year with an emphatic 3-0 victory over the league’s bottom side, North Leigh.

Just one win in 13 was the sorry story before the game, but in claiming only their third home success of the campaign in Division One Central of the Southern League, Kings will hope to mark a turnaround in their season.

Lawson was in lethal form, bagging a first-half brace to put the home side in control, and Bradley Smith added yet another goal to his tally from a free-kick.

The two goalscorers celebrate. (Image: Micah Ricketts (M Rich Photography)) Another Hornets loanee Bentley Assiedou produced his best showing in a Kings shirt to date, terrorising the North Leigh backline and causing issues all afternoon long and, in truth, the difference in quality was stark.

The visitors rarely looked like posing a threat, with the hosts the dominant force throughout, and the scoreline made for a fair reflection on proceedings.

Lawson put Kings into an early lead inside eight minutes, with Smith to thank as he intercepted, before playing the Watford striker through on goal. One on one with the keeper, Lawson never looked like missing and slotted away his first goal for the club with ease.

Jonathan Lawson goes round the goalkeeper. (Image: Micah Ricketts (M Rich Photography)) Langley twice came close to doubling their advantage soon after their opener, as Smith first saw his deflected shot find the side netting before James Towell had a cross-cum-shot tipped onto the crossbar by Leigh keeper Monty Marriott.

Henry Burt then broke away down the right, firing across the area with a Millers’ defender nearly turning into his own net, while Kobe Linton-Sinclair smashed over a good chance from the resulting corner.

Thirty minutes had gone and North Leigh were showing little sign or intent of getting back into the game; their first notable shot of the afternoon from Morgan Williams deflected past Adisorn Connolly’s post by Towell.

Lawson netted his second after 33 minutes; a neat passing pattern between himself, Juud Farrant and Bradley Smith pulling apart the right side of the visitors’ defence and allowing the centre-forward to dance round Marriott and tap into the deserted net.

Lawson leaves the North Leigh keeper and a teammate floundering as he scores. (Image: Micah Ricketts (M Rich Photography)) Full of confidence, Lawson bore down on the North Leigh defence again just three minutes later, winning a free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the area. Smith lined up to take it and he made it an ideal first half for the home side as his strike deceived Marriott and looped over him into the top of the goal.

Smith picked up a knock and was replaced four minutes into the second half by 16-year old Flinn Filler, maybe with half-an-eye on Tuesday’s clash with Leverstock Green. The youngster made his way to the right flank, with Assiedou switching to the left.

The first big chance of the half went the way of the Millers and Luca James. His shot across the goal was well saved by Connolly and the Kings stopper did even better to react and pick up the loose ball before Calvin Njoroge had a chance to pounce on the rebound, as the visitors produced their first and only sustained period of pressure of the afternoon.

However, the hosts rode the early North Leigh storm and began to re-establish their foothold in the game. Burt tested the palms of Marriott, before Jordan Parkes turned to himself and Rhys Farquharson-Leigh off the bench with around 30 minutes to play.

The player-manager nearly put his name on the scoresheet soon after his introduction, but his effort was palmed away by Marriott who was experiencing a busy outing in the North Leigh net.

Parkes then looped the rebound from his own blocked free-kick over the bar as Kings continued to look for a fourth goal to round off their victory.