A decisive late goal worked in Kings Langley’s favour on Saturday as they knocked Enfield Town out of the FA Trophy, but Paul Hobbs’ men were on the receiving end last night as Kettering Town struck in the closing stages to secure a 2-1 Southern League Premier Division win at Gaywood Park.

The hosts had taken a second-half lead through former Watford defender Jorell Johnson, but this was soon cancelled out by Liam Canavan before Paul Malone forced in the winner with two minutes of normal time remaining.

Kings gave a start to the hero of their win at the weekend, Jerry Amoo, in place of the unwell Steve Ward and saw Danny Boness pull off a superb save from a Lewis Hornby shot after just four minutes.

Amoo was causing Kettering some problems on the right wing with his speed and on the 15-minute mark Immanuelson Duku broke clear to hold off two defenders and place his shot past Dean Snedker, but a foot wide of the post.

The striker continued to be a lively presence in front of goal, but couldn’t find the target and as a fairly even opening half came to a close, Boness had to recover well after dropping a Matthew Barnes-Homer cross.

But the hosts’ impressive run of form looked to be continuing nine minutes into the second half as David Hutton took and received back a short corner and his low cross found Johnson at the far post, who drilled a low shot past the keeper.

The lead was to last only four minutes though, as Canavan unleashed a vicious, swerving 30-yarder, which Boness did well to adjust to, only to fumble the ball over the line.

Straight from the restart he was tested again by a long shot from Hornby which he finger-tipped onto the post.

The game was swinging Kettering’s way, but Emmanuel Folarin and Duku brought double blocks from the defence at the other end, before the away side made a double substitution.

This had the effect of upping their tempo and James Haran headed a good chance over the bar, while Boness spread himself wide to thwart Wilson Carvalho.

For all the pressure, Kings looked to have survived and could even have gone ahead when Duku did well to find space to get a shot in, but it was again just wide.

Then with two minutes of normal time remaining, a Hornby corner was headed back across goal by Brett Solkhon for Malone to force home the winner.

There was still enough time Duku to once again find the wrong side of the post and Ryan Plowright to be dismissed for a far corner flag incident.

It was a disappointing end for Kings after so much promise and some would argue that they deserved a point, but Town finished the game the stronger and reaped the reward.

Kings Langley: Boness; Folarin, C Toomey (Cox 78), Johnson, Plowright; Pattison (Connolly 72), Hitchcock; Amoo (Gallagher 85), Hutton, Chamberlain; Duku. Subs not used: Bush and Grotenhuis.