Matt Davey led by example as St Albans moved closer to promotion with a 2-0 win away to Cambridge University.
The skipper got both goals against one or their rivals for those four spots which will bring promotion to a new third tier of national hockey.
And the win means they are now third with a seven-point buffer to West Herts in fifth.
Head coach John Barrett said: “It was great team performance against a very well organised opposition”.
The students posed a threat throughout but Albans started well and after forcing an early short corner, Davey fired in his first wrong-footing the keeper.
The hosts did create a few opportunities of their own but couldn’t find a way past Iain Fraser.
And when Davey repeated the trick at the start of the second half it signified no way back for Cambridge.
Saints could have had a few more but they were more than happy to take the three points.
The first of their remaining games is at home to league leaders Wapping on Saturday.
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