Kings Langley have slipped to second in the Southern League Division One Central table after being held to a 1-1 draw by Godalming Town at Gaywood Park.

Although Mitchell Weiss’ opener was quickly cancelled out by Will Hutton yesterday, Kings had a great chance to get back to winning ways following their defeat at Potters Bar Town but David Hutton saw his tame penalty saved in a contest in which the wind played a significant part.

Royston Town now have a one-point lead at the top, and with a game in hand, following their 4-0 victory at Aylesbury United yesterday. The leaders entertain tenth-placed Ware tomorrow, while Paul Hughes and Ritchie Hanlon’s troops travel to basement side North Greenford United.

Neither side was able to come to terms with the gale-force conditions and the result was an extremely poor first half, in which a rebounded clearance fell to an onside Matt Bateman, but he was unable to convert the only clear chance of the first 45 minutes.

An interval double substitution by Kings saw the grit of Dean Hitchcock introduced in central midfield and the wing pace of Steve Ward, who attracted fouls like a magnet. The pair began to inject some quality into the proceedings, while the visitors adopted a shoot-on-sight policy through Will Hutton.

There seemed to be an agreement by all that keeping the ball on the ground may be more advantageous, but ironically it was the wind that helped to break the deadlock when Weiss, drifting to the left wing, unleashed a shot that suddenly and unexpectedly flew past a static Oneal Garnes and into the top far corner of the goal.

The home side’s joy was short-lived though, as Will Hutton duplicated the opener two minutes later, albeit from a more central position, when his lofted shot sailed over the head of the advanced Xavi Comas and into the net.

The Godalming scorer was encouraged to try his luck on further occasions, two of which tested Comas, but at least the home back four of Stuart Deaton, Connor Toomey, Callum Adebiyi and Emmanuel Folarin were having a good day, as were their visiting counterparts and chances remained minimal.

The next moment of note came when Hitchcock’s probing lofted through ball was perfect for the advancing Bateman, only for the young forward to be taken out in full flight by the Town keeper. After a two-minute delay for the injury and with the wind teasing the ball on the spot, the yellow-carded Garnes guessed rightly to save David Hutton’s nervous penalty.

Apart from a shot by Town’s Piers Oldland and a header by Kings’ Lorenzo Ferrari, both just wide, the game petered out to leave the wind the only winner in a frustrating encounter.