Kings Langley’s impressive ten-game unbeaten run, during which they have collected 28 points and surged to the top of the Southern League Division One Central table, came to a halt following Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Potters Bar Town.

However, Paul Hughes and Ritchie Hanlon’s side remained at the summit after Egham Town and AFC Rushden & Diamonds failed to take advantage, slipping to their second and fourth consecutive defeats respectively, but Royston Town moved ominously up to second place, a point behind the leaders.

Although Kings were without Stuart Deaton and Dean Hitchcock, the visitors started brightly enough, looking impressive in their build-up play without greatly threatening, apart from a penalty shout that fell on deaf ears when Mitchell Weiss was felled in the box.

The Scholars began to put their own moves together and the match was played at pace with uncompromising challenges as two equally-matched sides probed for the all-important opening goal.

Unlike their previous fixture against Aylesbury, it was Kings who blinked first as Evandro Delgado was given far too much space on their right and allowed to cut in and blast the ball past Xavi Comas, who got a hand to it but was beaten by the power of the shot.

It got worse ten minutes later when a move that started on the left switched wings to lay the ball at the feet of Joe Bennett and he finished with ease.

Kings battled back in the second half, but the influential David Hutton was finding life difficult in a competitive midfield and any hopes of a comeback were thwarted when another lapse on the left saw Jack Lyons seize on a loose ball to round the defence and slot home the third.

Leading scorer Weiss laboured hard to win back balls and was rewarded when a Ryan Plowright through ball saw him use his strength to hold off a defender and gain some consolation for Kings, who then had a good spell of pressure.

Another goal then would have set up a potentially exciting finish, but it was the old case of too little, too late as the contest drew to a close as the Scholars ran out deserved winners after upping their game against the leaders.