Kings Langley beat Leverstock Green 4-1 last night to reach the semi-finals of the St Mary’s Cup, but it was a result elsewhere that may have resulted in the loudest cheer of the evening for Paul Hughes and Ritchie Hanlon’s men.

Matt Bateman, Oran Swales, Danny Hutchins and Immanuelson Duku scored to set up a semi-final trip to Sun Sports, but in the race for the Southern League Division One Central title leaders Egham Town conceded an equaliser three minutes into stoppage-time to be held to a 2-2 draw at home by Fleet Town.

That result meant Egham were only able to move a point clear at the summit, while second-placed Kings now have a game in hand with three to play. Royston Town did what was required to stay in the hunt by beating Potters Bar Town 4-1 and are two points further back in third and also have three league fixtures remaining.

Although they are now in a great position to secure back-to-back titles, Langley face Fleet at Gaywood Park on Saturday, having been held to a goalless draw in the reverse fixture earlier this month.

However, Egham are at home to fourth-placed AFC Rushden & Diamonds, while Royston travel to play-off chasing Aylesbury.

Last night’s tie saw Kings hand a full debut to 17-year-old Swales and there was a return between the sticks for goalkeeper Ant Ladyman.

The early chances fell to Bateman, one of which was a header straight at Liam Jahn, but at the other end Green’s Ashley Addison had an opportunity blocked, retrieved the ball and was denied when through by a saving tackle from Gary Connolly.

As an entertaining contest reached the quarter-way point, Swales delivered a well-placed lob at the end of a run that Jahn tipped onto the post. But within a minute a Jack Stevens through ball following a quick free-kick saw Bateman finish powerfully to open the scoring.

Green responded with Lewis Cruwys bringing a full length save from Ladyman, while Kings could have gone further ahead when Lorenzo Ferrari failed to convert a Bateman cross.

That looked costly when a through ball gave Ollie Buckley the chance to slot home the equaliser, but parity lasted only two minutes as Swales picked up a pass from Hutchins on the right wing and unleashed an audacious 20-yard strike into the far corner of the net.

The second half saw an edge creep into the game as Kings upped the pace, possession and number of attacks, making a triple substitution on the hour.

Stevie Ward was always going to torment tiring legs and when a typical run through four defenders resulted in a trip in the box, Hutchins maintained his 100 per cent penalty conversion record.

Jahn pulled off a superb one-handed save from Ward, but could do nothing about a Duku free-kick from 25 yards in time added on as Kings booked a semi-final trip to Sun.