Xavi Comas was the hero as Kings Langley came out on top in their reunion with former managers and players after beating Hayes & Yeading United 1-0 yesterday.

A family accident delayed the arrival of the hosts’ Spanish goalkeeper until just before the starting deadline. But he was to prove pivotal on a a day of high drama that saw former joint bosses Paul Hughes and Ritchie Hanlon return to the club they led to three straight promotions before departing in early November following a significant reduction to their playing budget.

United fielded seven former Langley players in their starting line-up and had the better of the opening quarter-of-an-hour, culminating in a close-range Josh Chamberlain header being tipped over the bar by the alert Comas.

There was little in the way of goalmouth action for the next 30 minutes as the visitors had more possession, but failed to create openings and the Kings players, several of whom felt they had a point to make, gave as good as they received, while also failing to threaten the opposition goal.

That was to change as the first half entered its final minute though, when David Hutton was fouled ten yards inside the touchline and midway into the opposition half. There was a ripple of anticipation from those who had seen the playmaker dispatch previous free-kicks from an identical position and sure enough, his set piece arced over a crowd of players, taking a slight deflection on the way and into the top far corner of the net to give Kings the interval lead.

The second period was played at a far higher pace than the first; Jerry Amoo’s spectacular run through the defence ending with a shot straight at Danny Boness and Ryan Plowright heading over, while at the other end, a Ryan Hope through ball saw Comas quick off his line to make a brave block at the feet of Mitchell Weiss.

There was a let-off when Chamberlain blasted an opportunity over from close range, but as the visitors mounted the pressure to find an equaliser, so Kings raised their determination they would not pass and the back four of Jack Pattison, Emmanuel Folarin, Jorell Johnson and Mayo Balogun were in superb form, inspired by the confidence of Comas, who seemed to claim everything he went for, including an amazing double save from Chamberlain.

Tireless midfield performances from Dean Hitchcock and Plowright found outlets in Steve Ward and Amoo on the wings and Manny Duku up front, but the final act in the drama was reserved for the last minute of normal time when Folarin was adjudged to have handled in the box and up stepped Weiss, scorer of 70 goals for Kings over the last three seasons. As the crowd held its collective breath, he placed a low shot to the corner, only for Comas to cap a near perfect performance with a save to his right.

Minutes later the contest ended to a standing ovation from the large home support for a team that had given its all for manager Paul Hobbs and a keeper who had unassumingly achieved cult status on an unforgettable afternoon.