Kings made eleven changes for the starting line-up and four more players made their debuts. There were places on the bench for Under Eighteens Charlie Hobbs (son of former manager Paul) and Kieran Patterson and Lee Axworthy started in goal along with Crawley Town loanee Florian Kastrati.

The first half was a fairly flat affair, with neither side able to impose itself. Lee Axworthy pulled off two superb tip overs on the quarter and half hour marks and Louis-Michel Yamfam fired over from a Jack Wood cross. The Wood brothers were at the centre of a fine interpassing move soon after, but half time came with the scoreline still goal-less.

The game opened up after the interval with a Yamfam shot deflected onto the post, a Gary Connolly shot well held and at the other end, a Will McClellend header just wide. Then Jack Wood outstripped the retreating defence to beat his man by the corner flag and deliver a low telling cross into the box, where support had arrived.

When several bodies failed to make contact, the chance seemed to have gone, but the ball was diverted to Louis-Michel Yamfam on the edge of the area and his low shot found the net to put Kings ahead. There was another tip over from Axworthy, this time from a Jake Collins shot, but
Kings seemed in control of the outcome until a needless foul and booking for Kyle Connolly on the left three minutes from the end resulted in a free kick. The ball was swung in, the danger averted by a clearance, but back it came to find the head of
McClellend to take the game to penalties.

Kyle Connolly’s effort was saved, James Gurteen and Will Hoskins scored, while Collins, Habashi and Setchell all converted for the visitors. When Jack Moriarty blasted his over the bar, it was left to Reece Lambert to see Harpenden home and into the next round, where they will have a home tie with Stevenage.