There was to be last-minute drama for Kings Langley’s second home game running, but this time it was the hosts who were on the end of the sucker punch as Tiverton Town snatched a 3-3 draw with a 90th-minute strike.

Kings were on track for just a fourth victory of the Southern League Premier South season when they were leading 3-1 with six minutes remaining of Saturday's contest, only for the visitors to mount a spirited comeback to secure a point at the death.

Another eventful week had seen Kings agree to the transfer of Roddy Collins to Chesham United and the loss of the services of Kyle Connolly for family reasons. Manager Chris Cummins made the bold decision to switch to a 3-4-1-2 formation and included new Stevenage loanee Sam Dreyer as one of five teenagers in the line-up.

Youthful exuberance was evident as an Alfie Williams free-kick was glanced away for a corner and an Edu Toiny-Pendred header skimmed the bar in the opening minutes, while a Dan Hayfield shot was just past the post at the other end.

As a depressing drizzle set in, both sides lit up the park with some quick-fire interpassing football as the game flowed from end to end, but chances were few, namely a Chris Shephard shot mid-half, held by Alfie Marriott.

Watford Observer:

The Kings Langley defence comes under pressure

By the time the contest entered its last five minutes of the opening period, the interest of the crowd had switched to the performance of the referee, who took leniency to a new level as an edge crept into the proceedings.

The players wrested the interest back as Edu headed just over, Marriott saved point blank from Matt Wright and Jack Wood netted, but Jamie Jellis was ruled to have crossed the line in delivering the cross.

Unaware of the goal fest that awaited them, the crowd reacted to a superb clearance off the line by Tivvy’s Craig Woodman and a Gary Warren shot inches over, but Kings forward three were knocking on the door and forced it open in the 64th minute when Harry Crawford slipped a through ball to Jack Wood. Under pressure, the youngster beat Lewis Williams to it by inches to slide the ball home, and three minutes later he was central to a bizarre incident that was to double the lead.

Watford Observer:

Harry Crawford (out of picture) doubles Kings' lead

Another forward pass set him on a central run that left Warren trailing in his wake, whereupon the defender, no doubt encouraged by the aforementioned leniency, brought him down with a tackle round the waist that would have graced any rugby field. Crawford took no chances on a penalty decision and slotted home the loose ball to double the advantage while Warren escaped any punishment.

Watford Observer:

Sam Dreyer, wearing 5, scores the hosts' third

The visitors signified that there was more to come when Marriott made an uncharacteristic fumble to allow Shephard to reduce the deficit with a quarter of an hour to go, but Kings seemingly put the game to bed when Dreyer stabbed home from a Williams corner.

And that’s how it stayed until six minutes from time when a defence that had seemed solid, suddenly looked vulnerable as Tivvy battled back, inspired by a Theo Simpson goal and capped by a 90th minute equaliser from Hayfield’s shot through a crowded box.