A stubborn and committed performance was rewarded with a vital away point as relegation-battling Kings Langley held Southern League Premier Division promotion-chasing Leamington to a goalless draw on Saturday.

The outcome, which secured the hosts’ play-off place but all but ended their title hopes, means Paul Hobbs’ side are two points above the drop zone with three games remaining, two of which are against clubs currently in the bottom four, Hayes & Yeading United and Cirencester Town.

The tone of the match was set by Xavi Comas making a full-length save on five minutes, a reflex save from Courtney Baker-Richardson on 13 and a tremendous block to deny Ahmed Obeng on 17.

The unavailable Kings boss had set out a game plan, implemented by assistant manager Andy Stratford and carried out to the letter by the players, who gave a masterclass in the often maligned art of defending.

A back three was supplemented by two wing-backs, a holding midfield pairing and Ollie Cox in the hole behind Lewis Toomey and Matt Bateman.

Kings weathered the initial storm and found the front pair willing outlets for attacks of their own and a Sam Tring back-heel from a corner had to be cleared off the line, while a Toomey header was gathered by Tony Breeden.

The visitors’ commitment was such that they were competitive in every position, the only clue to the 49-point difference between the teams being the accuracy of the Brakes’ passing as they continued to mount attacks that saw a curling Obeng effort tipped away for a corner and a Richard Taundry free-kick strike the angle between post and bar.

The interval gave some respite, but Tring had succumbed to a recurring injury and was replaced by Kieran Turner, who found himself forced back into an unfamiliar left-back role as the Brakes pressure built relentlessly.

On the other flank, Lee Stobbs was also having to fill the role of an orthodox right-back, with Gary Connolly, Jorell Johnson and Ryan Plowright effectively centre backs.

Five minutes into the half and Plowright cleared a Connor Gudger shot off the line. But Kings always looked promising on the break and the influential Cox, who was in the thick of everything, tested Breeden with a piledriver that he failed to hold, almost allowing Toomey in on the rebound.

It was also a square Cox free-kick that gave Kieran Turner the opportunity for a shot well saved at the foot of the post. But as the game entered its final 15 minutes, the home side’s efforts became more frantic and in one episode Plowright again cleared off the line, the ball was fired back for Connolly to repeat the trick and Comas made a superb save for the third attempt.

That may have been the point when the title challengers accepted the harsh reality that the village club’s defence was indeed impenetrable on the day and after six minutes of time added-on, the referee brought the curtain down, as the travelling contingent acknowledged a performance of dedication and commitment that thoroughly deserved the priceless point.

Kings Langley: Comas; Connolly, Tring (Turner 41), Johnson; Stobbs, Hitchcock, Coldicot-Stevens, Plowright; Cox; Toomey, Bateman. Subs not used: Ward, Balogun, Gosling.