Former Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack came out of retirement to help Kings Langley to a 1-1 draw at home to AFC Dunstable on Saturday.

The 43-year-old ex-Cardiff City goalkeeping coach and head of Academy goalkeeping at Watford came out of retirement and donned his gloves again after Chesham United recalled Cian Moore from his loan spell.

While the early stages of the Southern League Division One central clash were pacey but scrappy and there was little to separate the sides, Kings took control after the break and could have come from behind to take all three points after having plenty of opportunities to add to Bradley Smith’s equaliser.

The afternoon’s first shot fell to Dunstable’s Sean Duodu, but it was a comfortable save for Stack to start his debut.

However, he was beaten after 27 minutes when Kyle Lynch headed home in a penalty area scramble resulting from an uncleared free-kick.

Kings’ first notable effort came five minutes later, their own set piece asking questions as Jake Anthony headed into the hands of Seb Stacey.

Anthony had a pair of efforts from Tami Ogunnowo crosses before his shot from Lewis Duberry’s pass sailed just over the bar as the hosts improved, but failed to find an equaliser before the half-time whistle.

Duberry tested Stacey with a low shot five minutes into the second period, the Dunstable keeper turning behind for a corner from which Isaac Pedro crashed Joshua Bryant’s delivery into the crossbar.

A free-kick was awarded from the same attack and Duberry forced Stacey into another stop, before Duodu fired just wide at the other end.

The game was bursting into life and it was the impressive Duberry again knocking on the door with a long-distance strike from a rapid Kings Langley move starting with a goal kick, but Stacey kept it firmly closed with another save.

However, it was Smith who levelled with a moment of magic on the hour, delicately controlling at the back post as Duberry’s cross looped out of the sky and forcing the ball past Stacey and inside the post with a powerful effort.

Three minutes later, James Towell had a great chance to give his side the lead as Henry Burt’s blocked shot fell to him, arriving at the far post, but he blazed his effort over the crossbar.

The home side had taken control and were pushing hard to go ahead, but Stack was called into action as Dunstable broke through the lively Duodu in the 71st minute.

Kings couldn’t quite find a way through and their opponents continued to pose a threat on the counter.

With nine minutes to play, Oliver Spicer’s attempt was helped just wide by Stack and Kings were forced to defend frantically as the corner bounced around the box.

With time running out, Burt put another good opportunity over the bar after substitute Declan Phillips’ good work on the right flank had found him at the edge of the box.

There were to be no more late home heroics for Kings, Pedro’s well saved header the closest they came to stealing the points, but Dunstable missed a big chance to leave with all three in stoppage time as Momodou Jallow found Stack standing strong in the Kings goal once more and Spicer fired the rebound over.