Kings Langley have been handed back-to-back FA Cup trips to Essex after beating Harlow Town 2-0 in the first qualifying round on Saturday.

Goals from Ken Feyi and Harry Crawford secured a place in the second qualifying round draw which saw Chris Cummins’ men rewarded with a visit to National League South Chelmsford City.

With four defenders ruled out in the build-up to the tie, the Kings management decided against reverting to the more obvious back four option and came up with a plan that worked better than they may have hoped.

The versatile Jamie Jellis switched to right wing back while the untried Rio Deall came in on the left. The latter’s combination with Alex Lafleur, moved to the left of a back three, troubled Harlow all afternoon and Josh Boorn, similarly making his first start in midfield, was hugely instrumental in the first goal.

Aryan Tajbakhsh dropped to the centre of the back three alongside the dependable Jorell Johnson and with Crawford back from injury alongside the hard-working James Mulley in midfield, Noyan Tajbakhsh and the impressive Feyi provided the threat up front.

That threat was realised after just five minutes when a quick Jellis throw sent Boorn running across a retreating defence and his through ball to Feyi was weighted perfectly for the in-form striker to take a touch before beating the outcoming Emmanuel Nwosu.

Harlow created a great chance for themselves five minutes later, but Samson Maagbe put the ball over the bar from close range and Kings continued to dominate the half, with both Deall and Boorn catching the eye and making the most of their opportunities.

A late burst by the home team resulted in a series of corners, from one of which Josh Steele headed onto and over the bar, but the interval arrived with Langley still one goal to the good.

Any hopes by the home team of a turnaround were quickly snuffed out as Kings doubled the advantage within two minutes of the resumption from another quick Jellis throw. Tajbakhsh lobbed the ball on, Feyi laid it back to Crawford and he picked his spot with a low drive through the defence, which Nwosu got a hand to, but was unable to stop.

The second half continued at pace, with attractive football on show but with fewer chances and a late ‘handbags’ in which players from both sides came together for a group hug failed to detract from an atmosphere inspired by Harlow’s warm hospitality.

For Kings though, it was a triumph of adaptability, a plan executed, the demonstration of strength in depth in the squad and the advancement to the next round of the FA Cup.

The Chelmsford tie is due to be played on Saturday, September 17 but before then Kings return to Southern League Premier Central action this Saturday at home to Rushall Olympic before a trip to Barwell next Monday.