Ten-man London Colney fought back from a goal behind to claim a 2-1 win over Stotfold – and the hosts may look back on this as a key result come the end of the season.

The Blueboys were not at their best and the loss of Jack Woods to a straight red card midway through the second half didn’t help.

But Jon Clements played the get out of jail card with just three minutes remaining to take all three points.

A sluggish start to the game from both teams was lit up in the 24th minute by Ben L’Honore.

He curled a free-kick over the wall and inside the near post, catching goalkeeper Tom Coulton and everyone else napping.

The goal however woke the hosts up and soon had the ball in the back of the net from Spencer Clarke-Mardel.

However the assistant referee had spotted that the ball had gone out of play before Che Kin To hooked it back into the middle and the goal was disallowed.

But still Colney pressed and just before the break Woods and Archie McClelland set-up Clarke-Mardel whose firm low drive was well held by Stotfold keeper Harry Pilsworth.

Something must have been put in half time drink or it was a stern half time chat from manager Joe Sweeney as the Blueboys came out with a bit more fight in them and they were rewarded with an equalising goal on 52 minutes.

A free kick from wide on the left by Gregg Douglas was met in the box by Greg Shaw who powered a header into the far corner of the net.

Stotfold tried to hit back with L’Honore shooting just wide before Clarke-Mardel played in new signing Tom Silford from AFC Dunstable but his low drive was saved by Pilsworth.

Woods was then shown a straight red card for violent conduct for an incident right in front of the dugouts.

But despite the numerical disadvantage Colney grabbed all three points late on.

McClelland skipped past a defender before sending a sizzling low strike towards goal which Pilsworth managed to save.

But the rebound fell perfectly for Clements to make it 2-1.

The Blueboys face Edgware Town at home on Saturday before yet another home fixture against Hadley next Tuesday, October 4.

London Colney Reserves won 2-1 away to Tring Athletic in the second round of the Suburban League Challenge Cup first leg with goals from Josh Galloway and Mickey Shuttlewood.

And the Blues Reserves, London Colney’s 4th team, beat Harpenden 4-3.

The goals came from Dan Turk, Alex Peat, Alex Nottage and Harry Craft.