Kings Langley’s improbable season moved a step closer to having a fairytale ending this week.

While Kings were beating Leverstock Green in the semi-finals of the St Mary’s Cup, the league title race swung back in their favour as well, with leaders Egham Town dropping points to leave Paul Hughes and Ritchie Hanlon’s side as masters of their own destiny at the top of Southern League Division One Central.

Kings won 4-1 on Tuesday with goals from Matt Bateman, Oran Swales, Danny Hutchins and Immanuelson Duku, but it was news of Egham’s 2-2 draw at home to Fleet Town that produced the loudest cheer of the evening for Langley.

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 and are now guaranteed a play-off place following Aylesbury's 2-2 draw with Aylesbury United last night.

Royston Town stayed in the title hunt as well by beating Potters Bar Town 4-1 and are two points further back in third. They also have three league fixtures remaining.

Speaking prior to last night's result, Hughes said: “It’s in our hands now. There was a big cheer in our dressing room when we saw the Egham result on twitter. It puts us back in control which is nice. We are in pole position. But we all know football is not as simple as that.

“It all starts against Fleet on Saturday and they are going to be very difficult to beat. Fleet, and how can we beat them is our only concern at the moment and we are not looking any further than that.”

Fleet are arguably the league’s form side and have a knack of denting teams’ title aspirations as their 95th minute equaliser at Egham in midweek showed. Kings also have first-hand experience of their reputation after being held to a 0-0 draw in Hampshire just a couple of weeks ago.

Hughes said: “They were very hard to break down, they matched our work rate which not many teams do and probably edged that game against us.

“We learned a huge amount from that game and we may adjust a few things to be more threatening against them.”

But the joint boss reckons the fact their recent battle is so fresh in the players’ minds could be to Kings’ advantage.

He said: “The players know it’s going to be such a tough game and that means they will go into it like a cup final and know that they have to be at their best.”

After Fleet, Kings visit bottom club North Greenford United on Tuesday, before winding up their campaign at mid-table Petersfield United.

Hughes said: “If we can pull it off and win the league it would be something you would not have foreseen with the resources we have.

“But the players have given 150 per cent in every game and they know how to win games.”

They took care of their own business last Saturday with a 2-0 win over Barton Rovers.

Duku’s ninth-minute opener settled any early nerves but they had to wait until the 87th minute to make the three points safe when David Hutton converted a penalty after he had been fouled in the area.

But the mood was soured when Emmanuel Folarin went over the top with the celebrations and duly picked up a second yellow card to earn a suspension.

Kings made changes for their midweek cup tie and handed a full debut to 17-year-old Swales and there was a return 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 was twice denied before Bateman opened 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 Ollie Buckley equalised, but parity lasted only two minutes as Swales fired a 20-yard strike into the net.

Kings scored again when Stevie Ward was tripped inside the penalty area, and Hutchins maintained his 100 per cent conversion record from the spot.

Jahn then saved 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 Postal.