Kings gave title-chasing Met. Police a run for their money, but ultimately were edged out by a late winner in an end to end thriller. After an early let off, when a one-two between Liam Ferdinand and Jack Mazzone saw the latter blast over, they stunned the visitors with a flowing move begun by Harry Crawford, crossed by Alex Lafleur and converted by Will Hoskins. That was followed up with a second goal eight minutes later when a fierce shot from the left by Joseph Lawal was blocked by keeper Liam Beach and Jamie Jellis fired home the rebound.

Kings were flying high with some inventive, interpassing football, but the buffer was to last a mere two minutes as a long ball out was seized upon by Liam Ferdinand, whose shot on the run was a goal from the moment it left his foot. The Blues, sensing that the tide had turned, upped the pressure and after hitting a post, drew level just before the break when Ferdinand broke free again to slot home via the offending post. Langley showed character to shrug off the disappointment and a Sam Dreyer cross saw Will Hoskins shot just wide, while an astute ball from Jamie Jellis gave Joseph Lawal an opening but his snap shot was superbly blocked by Liam Beach.

There was still little to choose between the two sides for the first fifteen of the second half, with a Will Hoskins effort blocked and Gary Connolly just off target, while Mazzone failed to finish a flowing move by firing wide. Then came a somewhat contentious penalty decision as an outcoming Alfie Marriott collided with Ferdinand, but the keeper more than made amends with a superb save from Mazzone, who was having a distinct off day. Fortunately for the Blues, his strike partner Ferdinand was continuing to give the defence a hard time as Langley’s sparkling first half performance faded into a dogged defensive rearguard. But just when they looked to have gained a valuable point, a cross from the right was met by a superb Sam De St Croix volley for a goal that was probably worthy of winning any contest.