Having missed the chance to go top in midweek with one draw, Welwyn Garden City were held to another stalemate at Kings Langley.
The 0-0 draw at home to Biggleswade had left them tied with leaders Hadley but behind on goal difference.
They looked set to get back to winning ways though when they lead 2-1 at Kings Langley with a minute to go.
Lewis Duberry prevented the three points heading back to Herns Lane, although the 2-2 draw did at least stretch the Citizens' unbeaten run to five, leaving them fifth and still in the play-off positions at the top of the Southern League Division One Central.
Skipper Brad Wadkins returned in the only change from the midweek draw, but within seven minutes of the start, WGC were forced into another switch, Benjy Crilley going off injured to be replaced by returning new signing Eddie Corbit.
He went into midfield with Charlie McDonald switching to the backline, once again performing admirably.
WGC were the brighter side in the opening exchanges and were rewarded with an 18th minute penalty, Ryan Kirwan burst into the area, switched passes with Layne Eadie, only to be tripped by home full-back Judd Farrant.
However, Bailey Stevenson's effort crashed off the crossbar and bounced out!
Stevenson almost made amends a little later, when he slipped around a couple of challenges and shot past keeper Cian Moore, only to see defender Charne Lemba clear from in front of an open goal.
But generally, the penalty miss had a dramatic effect on both sides. Kings Langley took encouragement from still being on level terms, while WGC’s first-half showing dropped off after the miss.
So it was no real surprise when the home team took the lead 10 minutes from the break.
A corner was pulled out to the back of the area, a Langley effort from Brad Smith deflected off Aiden Read onto the crossbar and although the Citizens defence had several opportunities to clear the danger, they couldn’t and Lemba slammed the loose ball home amid the melee.
WGC were fortunate not to be two down early in the second-half, when the former Harpenden Town striker Jake Anthony saw his goalbound header turned onto the bar by keeper Joe Welch.
From that point, the Citizens got back into their rhythm and just past the hour were back on terms.
A free-kick out on the right was returned to the area, where Langley’s Declan Phillips miscued a clearance, presenting the ball to Corbit who fired it back powerfully past Moore, for his opening goal for the club.
Midway through the half, manager Marc Weatherstone replaced Matty Whichelow with Lewis Jones and it was Jones who got WGC in front with 11 minutes to go.
The goal owed everything to the efforts of Kirwan, who again linked up with Eadie in the left-hand corner of the area.
Some clever touches took him around a couple of defenders before his low centre across the box was turned into the far corner by Jones’ flick.
It looked to be enough for WGC to take the points, until the final minute, when Langley substitute Rayan Clarke burst into the area.
Good work by keeper Welch held him up from shooting on two occasions, but again WGC couldn’t get the ball clear and eventually it squirmed across goal for substitute Duberry to force it home.
WGC: Welch, Otseh-Taiwo, Eadie, Crilley (Corbit 7), Read, Kirwan, McDonald, Bennett, Whichelow (Jones L 67), Stevenson, Wadkins
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here