Kings Langley came agonisingly close to securing a notable victory over high-flying Tiverton Town but ultimately had to settle for a 2-2 draw after River Allen struck a late equaliser.
The hosts had come from behind to lead through Mitchell Weiss’ brace, only for Allen’s leveller two minutes from the end of normal time to deny Kings a second Southern League Premier Division South success of the season.
The result was a fair reflection of the endeavours of both teams and a reprise of last season’s outcome when Langley had benefitted from a similarly late strike from Calum Adebiyi.
On this occasion the visitors were quickly into their stride and Charlie Burns made the first of several crucial saves with a smart stop from Allen’s early free-kick.Kings grew into the game and the marauding Steve Ward was a regular threat to the Tiverton defence but the visitors always looked particularly potent on the break with the ever-dangerous Levi Landricombe looking regularly capable of adding to his impressive 100-goal tally for the club.
Neither side was able to make the breakthrough before half-time, but the second period got off to an action-packed start with both teams creating clear opportunities.
First, Ward got on the end of an incisive Josh Coldicott-Stevens cross, only to put his glancing header agonisingly wide.
The missed opportunity was to prove costly as just a minute later Landricombe added to his impressive tally by impressively lobbing the ball over Burns to put the visitors ahead.
Steve Conroy’s side responded positively and a great strike from Weiss restored parity after a penetrating run by Ward had set the striker up.
The home side sensed an opportunity and Weiss’s deflected free-kick put Kings in front and increasingly in sight of a significant success until the late drama of Allen’s set piece found its way through the defensive wall to rescue a point for the visitors.
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