Four wins in a row have catapulted Kings Langley into third place in Southern League Division One Central and joint-manager Ritchie Hanlon believes his side can challenge for the title.

AFC Rushden and Diamonds, the phoenix of the original Rushden and Diamonds for whom Hanlon played, are six points clear of St Ives Town and Kings who are tied for second.

A 3-1 win over fellow play-off challengers Chalfont St Peter on Saturday moved Kings to within two wins of the long-term leaders who have played a game more.

David Hutton fired Kings Langley in front at Gaywood Park after 32 minutes with a free-kick which deceived everybody.

The former Hemel Hempstead midfielder created the second, too. From his corner Chalfont’s Alex Paine nodded past his own goalkeeper to give Kings a 2-0 lead.

The visitors then squandered the chance to reduce the arrears when Victor Osobu was felled inside the penalty area.

Goalkeeper Xavi Comas saved the resulting penalty, though, denying Michael Murray from 12 yards.

From there Kings opened up a three-goal advantage. Hutton was the man on hand to back-heel into the goal after Lorenzo Ferrari had been denied by keeper Michael Power-Simpson.

“We’ve had an upturn of form so confidence is high,” said Hanlon. “We’ve put ourselves in the position where we could challenge [for promotion].

“I think the boys are looking at the table and saying ‘We’ve got a chance here’.”

Hanlon continued: “The result was more important than anything else. The conditions were atrocious. We had them in our favour in the first half and we took advantage.

“We still managed to play some very good football and opened them up. The second half was totally different.

“They had the wind and it was difficult to get out of our half. We still had chance on the break thanks to clever play and strong running. At this stage the important thing is the result.

“It’s not just about the 11 players out there. The squad of 16 just really want to win at the moment."

Players such as goalscorer Hutton are sprinkled among a core group of young players, many of whom are home grown or have joined Kings looking to get their career back on track after rejection elsewhere.

One such example is top scorer Mitchell Weiss who has already secured a promotion for himself regardless of where Kings finish. The 20-goal forward will link up with National League South side Hemel Hempstead next season.

And Hanlon believes bringing through young players – while through necessity – is the best model for the village club who are unable to compete with much of the division financially.

He said: “The capability of our club is to progress the younger players.

“We need to be a club that produces home grown players or young talent in the area and helps players go back up the ladder.

“In the 16-man squad every week there must be six or seven 17 to 20 year olds and several of them start. But we forget their ages because they’ve played here for two or three years."

In that time Kings have won two promotions and are playing at the highest level in the club's history.

Whilst the Southern League is new ground, being in the promotion hunt at the business end of the season isn’t a new concept for Hanlon and Paul Hughes' side.

"A lot of our squad have been with us for a few years," said Hanlon. "There have been a few changes this year, though, because some of our more established players have moved on to bigger clubs who pay better.

"But that has given us the chance to bring young players into the team who have been doing well for the Reserves.

"But because they have matured now they've come into the first team and there has is a continuity.

"Some of these boys weren't involved so much last year. But the grounding they have received means they have been coached the same way and asked to play the same way as the first team so it's easy for them to slot into the first team."

Hanlon added: "We're still little Kings Langley, you only need to see the size of the crowd to realise that, but no-one can take away our style of football or ambition."