Kings Langley suffered a second consecutive narrow defeat, but counted themselves decidedly unlucky not to have secured at least a share of the spoils after they were beaten 2-1 at last season’s promotion partners, St Ives Town, on Saturday.

On one of the coldest days of the season so far, Saints caught Kings cold as they took the lead after only 53 seconds when a left-wing Josh Dawkin cross was turned home by the predatory Ben Seymour-Shove.

The visitors responded well to the early setback with penetrating runs from both Steve Ward and Manny Duku stretching the Saints defence and signalling a period of sustained pressure.

Despite Kings’ ascendancy, they could not secure the vital end product as the home defence was proving resilient as home custodian Tim Trebes dealed competently with some dangerous crosses.

However, the visitors missed a great opportunity to restore parity on the stroke of half-time when fit again striker Lewis Toomey cleverly set up Duku who, with the goal at his mercy, screwed his first-time effort just wide to leave his side still in arrears at the break.

The second period continued in much the same vein as Kings strived for the equaliser on a stamina-sapping pitch. Jack Waldren, a first-half substitute for the injured Ollie Cox, was proving to be a regular outlet for their attacks and he was unlucky to see a snap shot fade just wide when combining well with Toomey.

Saints also had their moments and Xavi Comas had to move smartly to deny striker Danny Kelly from increasing the home side’s advantage.

As the game wore on, Paul Hobbs introduced strikers James Verney and Ollie Cole into the fray and although Kings’ attacking potency was increased, the vital breakthrough would not come.

The home side remained dangerous on the break and from one of these sorties they secured a somewhat fortunate and ultimately decisive second goal in the 80th minute when Josh Dawkin’s effort was initially saved by Comas but ricocheted back off the striker and just crept over the line.

Despite this hammer blow the visitors’ response was instantaneous, when straight from the restart Ryan Plowright, who had worked tirelessly throughout, sent an inch perfect cross to the far post which the inrushing Waldren met perfectly to head home.

This spurred Kings on to mount a final onslaught, but there was to be no late drama as the home side held on gamely to secure the points, leaving Hobbs’ side to reflect on what might have been.

Kings remained 18th in the Southern League Premier Division following the defeat and return home for their next league game on Saturday to face a King’s Lynn Town side two places and three points ahead of them in the table.

Kings Langley: Comas; Pattison, Connolly, Johnson, Balogun; Hitchcock (Cole 72), Cox (Waldren 28); Ward (Verney 64), Plowright, Duku; Toomey. Subs not used: Bush and Gallagher.