Seasoned campaigner Will Hoskins came off the bench to grab a dramatic late equaliser for Kings in this pulsating basement battle. In truth, it was no more than Kings deserved as they fought back to parity from a two goal deficit only to concede again almost immediately after a dubious penalty award.

Langley’ got off to the worst possible start as the hosts scored with their very first attack when Strugnell’s low cross was deftly turned in by Lewis Beale. But despite the setback, Kings went immediately on the front foot, with Harry Crawford the regular focal point for some enterprising approach play which regularly stretched the home defence. They could, and should, have been level after fifteen minutes
when Jack Wood took advantage of a hesitant home defence to dart in and cleverly steer the ball goalwards. Crawford’s predatory instinct compelled him to make certain of the score by tapping home.

Unfortunately, his intervention was from an offside position and the ‘equaliser’ was chalked off. As if to rub salt in the wound just minutes later Beale reprised his earlier strike with an almost identical conversion to increase the home side’s advantage after 18 minutes.

Both teams now settled into a phase of free flowing football that generated a number of opportunities at both ends and fortunately for Kings, it was one of their forays that reduced the arrears when Harry Crawford combined superbly with Jamie Jellis to crash home an unstoppable volley past debutant keeper, Ryan Hall.

As the half drew to a close, it was clear the breakthrough was just the platform Kings needed to mount a second half comeback. And they didn’t disappoint. Within minutes of the restart they were level and, once again, it was that man Crawford who was there to clinically finish off a defence splitting pass from Alfie Williams. Langley had all the momentum now but within a minute their hopes were cruelly dented.
Referee Robinson’s forensic analysis of the maelstrom of activity, routinely evident at corners, deduced there had been an offence punishable by a penalty to Wimborne. Beale was no doubt as mystified as the rest of us but kept his concentration to convert the award confidently.

Kings were once again facing a deficit, but were spirited in their response with both Jamie Jellis and Jack Wood on either wing stretching the home defence and Crawford a constant threat. In fact, it was Harry Crawford who featured prominently in the next pivotal moment on 75 minutes when, in keeping with the combative approach he had taken throughout the match, he contested a genuine 50/50 ball only for the
referee to decide the challenge was over zealous and deserving of a straight red. It was tough on Crawford who had been immense throughout, displaying all the battling qualities Kings will need to pull clear of the relegation zone.

With his departure, the path to parity looked beyond Kings but they remained undaunted in their endeavours as manager Cummins introduced both Amu and Hoskins as a double strike force in search of the equaliser. The decision was to prove inspired as with just on 90 minutes on the clock both players combined to give Hoskins the chance to slide home at the far post and send the travelling faithful into
raptures. There was still time for a dramatic finale when, with seconds remaining, Alfie Marriott pulled off a stunning reflex save to preserve the visitors’ share of the spoils and bring the curtain down on a match that had been a frenzy of fluctuating fortunes but, hopefully, one that is a positive portent of things to come.