Former Watford striker Will Hoskins scored his first Kings Langley goal but it was a teenage goalkeeper who proved to be the penalty shootout hero for the Southern League Premier Central side as they advanced into the quarter-finals of the Herts Senior Cup following a 1-1 draw with Baldock Town.

Hoskins, who signed for Kings last week, made the breakthrough in the 57th minute of last night's county cup tie, but their Spartan South Midlands Premier Division proved well-organised and resolute opponents, equalising two minutes into injury-time to take the contest to spot-kicks.

This gave former Under-18 keeper Liam Studley the chance to crown his debut in memorable fashion and he took it, keeping out Paul Morris’ powerful effort to secure a 4-3 shootout success.

Kings boss Chris Cummins gave all the squad players a chance to catch the eye, making seven changes to the team that beat Nuneaton Borough 2-0 in the league on Saturday, but the tie failed to capture the interest of the public, attracting an attendance of only 44 fans.

Studley was in the action as early as the third minute, but although the home side provided the bulk of the attacking play, they had little to show for it, the best being a Louie Collier volley that veered inches past the juncture of post and bar.

The second half started with more of the same, but Kings made the breakthrough as the hour mark approached. Collier crossed from the right, the ball received several near misses and rebounded clearances before falling to Hoskins on the left and the experienced striker made no mistake.

Hoskins was clear again minutes later, squaring the ball to Mitchell Weiss, but the forward uncharacteristically side-footed the ball past an unguarded post.

Town hit the bar on a rare foray forward, but Kings continued to be profligate in front of goal - an Evans Lamboh first-time shot from a Collier cross going just past the post and a Harry Crawford header over from a fine Alex Anderson delivery.

Baldock had more than remained in the game despite their fewer ratio of chances and Studley was called upon to produce a superb tip over with four minutes to go.

But the visitors carried on to the end and got their reward when the young keeper made possibly his only error of the game, choosing to come out to the right-wing run of Scott Piggott and seeing his shot nestle in the far corner of the net to take the tie to penalties.

Stevie Ward buried the first and Alex Coppin did likewise, before Dean Hitchcock was wide of the post and Piggott gave Town the advantage.

Crawford blasted the ball home, but a shot of equal ferocity by Alex O’Brien rebounded back from the bar, before Hoskins and Charlie Thake kept it level pegging at three each.

Kyle Connolly converted with ease to make it 4-3, leaving Morris to step up but Studley dived to his right to palm away the effort and send the hosts through.

Kings Langley: Studley; Anderson, Johnson (Ward 79), Adebiyi, Linsell; Collins (Hitchcock 58); Lamboh, Collier; Crawford, Hoskins, Weiss (K Connolly 70). Sub not used: Minter.