Kings Langley boosted their Southern League Premier Division survival hopes with a crucial 2-0 victory over fellow relegation-threatened side Cambridge City at Gaywood Park last night.

The victory, secured by second-half goals from Kieran Turner and Stevie Ward deep into injury-time, moved Paul Hobbs’ men five points clear of the bottom four with seven games left to play.

Given the ‘must-win’ nature of the contest, there was an air of tension even before kick-off and this did not encourage free-flowing football, with neither side wishing to make a mistake and hefty clearances became the order of the evening.

A Turner cross was gathered well at the feet of incoming forwards by Dean Snedker and Ollie Cox put a snap shot over the bar, while an effort by the lively Charlie Woolfe suffered the same fate at the other end.

When Woolfe and Matthew Foy worked an opening on 25 minutes, it seemed the visitors would take the lead, but a brave and acrobatic interception by Gary Connolly denied the opportunity.

City had the better of the first half-an-hour and their opponents lacked any passing rhythm, but almost imperceptibly they were raising their game as demonstrated by a Lewis Toomey header just over from a Ryan Plowright cross and a neat attacking move by Toomey and Michael King being deflected for a corner.

There was no doubt about that performance uplift as the second half commenced though, as Kings came roaring out of the blocks and grabbed the all-important opener within four minutes.

A couple of typically direct Ward runs at the defence had already caused concern to the visitors and this time his pace took him to the corner flag, from where a perfectly delivered cross was met at the far post by the head of Turner, who couldn’t have picked a better moment to deliver his first goal for the club.

As the home side’s confidence flowed, King went close with a looping shot. But Cambridge still looked dangerous on the break and Xavi Comas made a good save at the expense of Lee Stevenson, as home hearts skipped a beat.

As the clock ticked slowly down, a Toomey delivery across the face of goal received no takers and the same scenario was replicated at the other end.

Some lengthy injuries had dictated that there would be six or seven minutes of time added on and Kings were still searching for the killer blow when they broke from defence on 95 minutes and a King left-wing cross was met by Ward, whose mid-air flicked volley beat Snedker to ensure Kings’ first win in ten and keep alive the belief that, against the odds, they can survive in the top flight.

Kings Langley: Comas; Connolly (Balogun 81), Johnson, Tring, Plowright; Ward (Waldren 90), Hitchcock, Cox, Turner; Toomey (Amoo 89), King. Subs not used: Verney and Gosling.