Kings Langley’s remarkable rise continued as they made it five successive victories to move up to second in Southern League Division One Central following a 2-1 wins over Leighton Town at Gaywood Park yesterday.

Paul Hughes and Ritchie Hanlon’s side cut the gap to leaders AFC Rushden & Diamonds, who they meet next Saturday, to four points after the table-toppers were held to a goalless draw at Fleet Town.

However, before the potential first-against-second clash, both sides face games on Tuesday; Kings are at home to basement outfit North Greenford United while Rushden face a tougher-looking proposition when they entertain third-placed St Ives Town.

Although the hosts continued their superb run, they were made to fight all the way by a skilful and determined Leighton side, who dropped to second from bottom following this defeat.

The home side started at a typical storming pace, with Callum Adebiyi’s shot deflected past the post by goalkeeper Sam Wyer and a header just over by the same Langley player, punctuated by a David Hutton shot that was somehow saved by the visitors’ impressive keeper.

Town responded well with left-wing runs by Lewis McBride posing some problems, an Ibrahim Kallon shot deflected and an Aaron McKee volley punched clear by Xavi Comas.

At the other end, a Danny Hutchins shot was tipped round the post as the game flowed, but it was Leighton who drew first blood when James Hatch opened up the right wing with a run that rounded Adebiyi and Connor Toomey to deliver a perfect cross for Ben Gallant to slot home at the far post.

A stunned Kings had an Immanuelson Duku shot cleared off the line, but the visitors held their advantage until the break. They knew they would face a second-half onslaught and so it proved, with Toomey providing an unstoppable header to a Hutton corner after just eight minutes to equalise.

The match then entered an intriguing phase as Leighton dug in to try and hold on to a point, but Langley were raising their game as the midfield battles were being won by the fiercly competitive Ryan Plowright and the strength and persistence of Mitchell Weiss was beginning to dominate a tiring defence.

With a quarter-of-an-hour to go, a sublime through ball by Stevie Ward was seized on by Weiss and although Wyer got a hand to his shot, the power of the strike took it into the net.

Town substitute Jack Copson had a back-heel cleared off the line by Emmanuel Folarin, but there was to be no reward for a team that looked far better than their league position suggests, while for Kings the impossible dream of a third consecutive promotion lives on.