Kings Langley fell victim to a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Chesham United on Boxing Day in the Southern League Premier Division.

Hosts United started the brighter of the sides with Brad Watkins and Ryan Blake both having early chances.

But Kings did not succumb to the early pressure and on the half-hour mark, Ryan Plowright had a shot saved by the United keeper.

It was Langley’s Steve Ward who opened the scoring after Immanuelson Duku ran down the left wing, and Ward was on hand to slot the ball home after David Hutton was tackled.

United tried to find the equaliser quickly but keeper Danzelle St. Louis-Hamilton, a late signing with Xavi Comas unavailable, emerged with the ball in a goalmouth melee.

But Chesham’s veteran striker Barry Hayles came to the rescue for the hosts and headed home on the stroke of half-time.

The home side carried that momentum into the second half and they doubled their lead within minutes through a Mat Mitchel-King header.

Ashlee Jones then had to keep out a Jorell Johnson shot.

Hayles added a second and United’s third to kill off any Kings momentum when the defence gave him far too much room and he tapped home from a right-wing cross.

With the game seemingly beyond them, up stepped Duku who found Plowright with a pinpoint cross and the latter turned in from close range.

However, any hopes of a comeback were to end when after a goalmouth scramble, the hosts were awarded a penalty and Dave Pearce calmly placed the ball into the net from the spot.

Sam Youngs added their fifth with a point-blank header to give the scoreline a look that was perhaps a little harsh on the visitors.

Kings remain 19th in the table ahead of Monday’s reunion with former managers Paul Hughes and Ritchie Hanlon, who are now in charge of fellow strugglers Hayes & Yeading United.