Both teams struggled to get into rhythm in the first half and while each had chances to assert itself, neither could break down the opposition defence. James Nation for Kings and Joshua Smith for Albany controlled their respective defensive ends resolutely.
The midfielders were starved of the ball as each side fell into the trap of relying on long balls and showing a little impatience.
Near the end of the first half, Lawson Davison received the ball near the right-hand attacking corner and forced a penalty corner with some clever stick work. A second corner followed shortly after but Albany keeper Hamish Van Dyke made two good saves and the teams went into the sheds scoreless.
A better pattern was established in the second half as both teams tried to control possession. It was very even and whenever it looked like some ascendancy was being reached, the attack would peter out or the outcome in the circle would not be enough to trouble Van Dyke or experienced Kings keeper James Bishop.
It took until the last three minutes of the game for the decisive score.
Albany seized a turnover in defence and Gabe Rawcliffe made a scything run through the midfield before passing to the right-hand corner. A dive from Jared Hewitt allowed him to collect the ball and then win a PC. While the initial shot broke down, the ball fell to Gilbert and the experienced striker drilled a low reverse into the backboard.
Kings had a penalty corner right on fulltime but Van Dyke again made a great save to end hopes of a draw.
In the other premier men's games, University A Blue Whales beat Southland 6-2 and University B Black Panthers beat Taieri Tuataras 2-1.
-By Matthew West