A late Lewis Duberry equaliser ensured Kings Langley took a point in an absorbing and feisty 2-2 draw at home to Welwyn Garden City.
With James Towell unavailable for Saturday’s Southern League Division One Central clash, Josh Bryant made his full debut at left back against his previous club, with Juud Farrant switching to the right, while Lance Williams returned up front and Rayan Clarke dropped to the bench.
A Williams header in the opening minute was to prove Kings’ sole threat on the City goal for the next quarter, as the visitors dominated, culminating in a penalty award in the 20th minute when Farrant tripped Ryan Kirwin in the box.
Bailey Stevenson, who was Kings’ nemesis in this fixture last season, stepped forward and crashed his spot kick against the bar.
He almost atoned soon after, beating keeper Cian Moore but seeing Charne Lemba clear off the line.
It was the Kings defender who capped an all-round display by giving his side the lead in the 35th minute. A Bradley Smith effort from a corner was deflected onto the bar by a defender and in the ensuing scramble Lemba forced the ball home.
Knowing that they had ridden their luck a little, Kings stepped up a gear in the second half and almost doubled their advantage when a Tami Ogunnowo cross was met with a glancing header from Jake Anthony, only to see a superb reaction save from Joe Welch tip it onto the junction of post and crossbar.
However, the Citizens were back on terms just past the hour when a free-kick from their right was swung into the box and Kings missed their chance to clear, allowing Eddie Corbit to rifle home via a deflection.
When Lewis Jones put the visitors ahead ten minutes from time after a move on the left, the turnaround looked complete, but Kings battled to the end and were rewarded in the last minute of normal time when substitute Qasim Khan received the ball in a crowded box and did well to get a shot away which Welch did equally well to block. Undeterred, Khan seized upon the ball again and the action was repeated before a jubilant Duberry slammed the ball into the net from the ensuing melee.
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