Kings Langley ensured they made progress in a second cup competition in four days with a 1-0 victory at Biggleswade last night.

Following Saturday’s 3-1 home win over Barking in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup, Charlie Ruff followed up his penalty in that tie with another successful conversion from 12 yards to see his side through the League Cup preliminary round encounter.

Boss Dean Barker said: “This was another really good away win to keep the positive momentum going. It was very important we got a clean sheet and into the next round we go.

“We have some big games coming up in the next few weeks so we stick together and keep improving.”

The Kings boss brought in Harry Crawford, Milton Keynes Dons loanee Charlie Pattison and Kane Farrell, resting Roddy Collins, Lloyd Doyley and Gary Connolly.

It was the visitors who made the early running with a fine Farrell forward pass giving Crawford an opportunity on his first start, but keeper James Cornell responded with a good block, while a powerful Callum Adebiyi header was ruled offside.

Biggleswade were producing some good, attacking, inter-passing football, but Kings defence was holding firm, limiting them to a Sam Kelly effort wide of the post and an Alex Marsh 25-yarder punched away by Melvin Minter.

The second half continued in the same vein, with Tom Coles’ fierce shot turned away by Minter and a searing run and cross by Farrell receiving no takers in the box.

Eoin McKeown and Mitchell Weiss nearly combined to break the deadlock on the hour, but the home side were upping the pace of the game and a break and shot from the livewire Marsh produced a spectacular flying save from Minter.

With experts in the crowd confirming that there was to be no extra-time but straight to penalties in the event of a draw, a lofted through ball resulted in McKeown getting goal-side of Luke Oswick and the defender’s clumsy challenge gave the referee little option but to point to the spot.

It was to be nearly three minutes before the kick was taken, as the official made a production of booking the unfortunate Oswick, but Ruff showed little sign of nerves as he finally drilled the ball into the corner for his second successful penalty of the week.

The young Biggleswade side put plenty of effort into searching for an equaliser, but an assured Kings Langley looked comfortable in seeing the game out to its conclusion.

Kings Langley: Minter; K Connolly, Pattison, Adebiyi, Farrell; Coldicott-Stevens (Collins 64), Crawford (G Connolly 79); McKeown, Ruff (Brady 84), Hercules; Weiss. Subs not used: Doyley, Campbell-Mhlope.