Kings Langley needed penalties to progress through the first round of the Herts Senior Cup after old rivals Tring Athletic pegged them back to a 2-2 draw.

The tie was brought forward as club secretary Derry Edgar filled another blank Saturday in the questionable Southern League fixtures programme to ensure Kings had a game.

The management took the opportunity to introduce new signing from Harpenden Town, Jake Anthony, as the main striker and give the other newcomer, Italian-born Tami Ogunnowo, his first start on the left flank.

The former Waltham Abbey man was soon to show some impressive runs into the box while one glorious low cross went unconverted.

Chances were few as both sides battled for control, but the Spartan League side sounded a warning when Frankie Hercules fired a well-taken free-kick from distance just past the post.

It was the home team that broke the deadlock after 33 minutes though, when the lively Bradley Smith cut in from the right and unleashed a shot across Luke Midwinter and into the far corner of the net.

The keeper did well to get a hand to the ball, but the sheer power of the shot gave him little chance of deflecting it.

The start of the second half saw the game become more open and Tring skipper George Carberry was perfectly placed to deliver a powerful header that brought an athletic tip over from Cian Moore.

However, the visitors’ aspirations looked to have been dashed when the debutants combined, Anthony putting a sublime through ball to the feet of Ogunnowo, who was tripped from behind.

Lewis Duberry took responsibility for the spot kick and blasted the ball into the top left of the net to double Kings’ advantage after 57 minutes.

For the next 20 minutes, the game appeared to be heading for the formality of a Kings win, but suddenly Hercules received a pass outside the box and hit a screamer that looked to be a goal from the second it left his foot, giving Moore no chance.

Inevitably, the dynamics of the game changed, and when the Kings midfield tamely surrendered possession on their left, the resultant cross was headed home by Benji Kakembo, who had been involved in a physical battle with Charne Lemba all afternoon.

Neither side was able to fashion a decent chance in the remaining five minutes and so the tie was settled by penalties.

The visitors went first at the Hemel end and Greg Deer’s conversion was matched by Lorenzo Johnson. Advantage then went to Kings as Harry Beaumont blazed over the bar and Smith scored confidently. Moore pulled off a good save from Jack Harvey, but Midwinter responded in kind at the expense of Juud Farrant. Hercules and Isaac Pedro both converted and when Moore easily saved Blake Argent’s tame shot, there was no way back for the visitors as Kings progressed 3-2.