A late Callum Adebiyi header ensured Kings Langley secured a 2-2 draw from an absorbing contest with Tiverton Town as the performance of two youngsters gave Steve Conroy a boost.

Hit by the recall of three loan players and the unavailability of Kieran Turner and Arjun Jung, the Kings boss gave starts to new signing Jacob Cook and Under-18 midfielder Louie Collier and both responded by looking totally at ease with their surroundings, giving Conroy a late-season bonus.

After a blip in form over the last two matches, the home side looked sharp and dominated the first half.

A saving tackle denied Cook, drafted in at right-back, a goal on his debut, while Liam Armstrong parried a Gareth Price shot and a Gary Connolly rocket was a foot wide.

Mitchell Weiss shaved a post and Tiverton, who received three yellow cards in the first 20 minutes, had only two chances for the prolific Levi Landricombe to show for their first-half efforts, the second of which was foiled by a brave save by Martin Bennett at the feet of the onrushing attacker.

The second half opened in dramatic fashion when Price received a touch from behind from Scott Rogers, the referee pointed to the spot and Stevie Ward confidently converted his first penalty for the club.

The lead was to last just six minutes though, as a loose pass saw the outcoming Bennett seemingly get both hands to the ball at the feet of Landricombe, but suffer a harsh penalty award for the second week running.

Landricombe equalised from 12 yards and although both penalties had erred towards the soft side, Tivvi now had the psychological advantage for the first time. Gary Connolly was forced into a goal-line clearance and Bennett had the satisfaction of a flying save from Landricombe.

Kings were playing some good inter-passing football, with 17-year-old Collier at the heart of much of it and an 18-yard volley from Adebiyi flew past the post before a Josh Coldicott-Stevens deflected shot caused concern to the visitors’ defence.

But Town’s new-found confidence was to result in Tom Bath volleying home a Nick Hurst free-kick. Although Weiss was inches from an instant reply, Kings were staring an unjust defeat in the face.

Another Under-18 prodigy, 16-year-old Edu Toiny-Pendred, was introduced and almost made an immediate impact with a shot just over the bar.

But the home side were not to be denied and with four minutes of normal time remaining, an Elliott Godfrey corner was emphatically headed home by Adebiyi to restore balance.

Kings pushed for the winner they felt they deserved, but their opponents held firm and Bennett had to pull off a superb tip round from Bath in the last minute to ensure honours ended even.

Kings Langley: Bennett; Cook, Connolly, Johnson, Adebiyi; Coldicott-Stevens (Minchev 83), Godfrey; Ward, Collier, Price (Toing-Pendred 80); Weiss. Subs not used: Femiola.