Kings Langley scored a brace from open play for the first time this season and it was enough to overcome hard-working North Leigh hosts to claim a 2-0 victory.

With Bradley Dixon-Smith transferred to Hitchin Town in midweek, Kings featured two new signings in their defensive line-up for Saturday’s Southern League Division One Central contest, with James Towell at right-back and Daniel Aldana in the centre.

The experienced Towell was soon in the action, combining well with Declan Phillips to send in a searching cross which just eluded Kings’ inrushing contingent.

Strike partners Lance Williams and Qasim Khan were also finding some synergy, with Williams’ clever lay-off setting up Khan for a rocket shot that flashed inches wide. Williams repeated the ploy just moments later but this time Khan just failed to latch on to the sharp chance.

The visitors were making all the early running, but were finding the home side resilient in defence with keeper Monty Marriott in competent form behind them.

That theme continued throughout the half as Kings created regular opportunities while containing the host’s sporadic attacks with generally little anxiety, but they could not find the all-important breakthrough as the opening period ended goalless.

Lance Williams scoringLance Williams scoring (Image: Micah Ricketts)

That soon changed early in the second half when a slick midfield move created space for Shaune Keane to deliver a penetrating far post cross which saw ex-Leigh man Williams rise highest to plant a firm header into the net.

Just a minute later the same player was to prove an even greater scourge to his former colleagues when he capitalised on a defensive mix up and quickly fed Khan, who made no mistake from close range to put Kings well in command.

Manager Jordan Parkes brought on a succession of substitutes, including himself, to maintain energy levels in what was testing conditions. The tactic worked, as Kings continued to dominate, with the creation of numerous opportunities, but dogged defending kept them at bay.

Conspicuous amongst the replacements was again Brad Smith, whose darting runs were a regular torment to the home defence. The young forward was particularly unlucky when he beat his man and unleashed a tremendous drive which crashed against the bar.

However, it mattered little, as Kings managed the game to a conclusion, with few concerns, to earn a second victory on the road to leave them 11th in the table.