Among the quite well-deserved celebrations following Colney Heath’s 1-0 win over Tring Athletic will be a number of if onlys.
If only they had found the form that has seen them beat two of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division title challengers sooner would have been the main one.
Both the victories over Biggleswade FC and Tring came away from home and showed the Magpies at their very best.
They extended their impressive recent form to four straight league wins, five if you count the Herts Charity Shield quarter-final success against St Margaretsbury.
And they have catapulted Colney up to sixth in the table with six games to go.
This win came courtesy of a solitary Danny Fitzgerald goal, scored 10 minutes from time, and it was dripping in the spectacular.
Picking the ball up 35 yards out from Pat Sinfield’s goal and out wide, he spotted the keeper out of goal and perhaps too focused on the run of Andy Sears-Black.
It meant when the shot came in the ball sailed over his head and in off the far post.
Considering there was so little time to go after the goal there were still plenty of attempts on goal.
Former WGC-man George Ironton and Lee Stobbs both went close for the hosts while Jack Woods had a shot deflected wide while George Devine was denied by Sinfield.
Earlier on a succession of corner kicks had Tring’s defence scrambling to clear the danger
One of those deliveries found Sam Doolan but his header brushed the top of the bar on its way over.
At the other end Ashton Campbell fired just wide of Tom Blackman’s far post.
Colney came close to breaking the deadlock early in the second half but Woods’ effort bounced back off the foot of the post.
Spencer Clarke-Mardel also went close later on.
Tring still threatened and Jon Clements, a title winner in each of the last two seasons and a former team-mate of many of the Magpies side, forced Blackman into a good save.
It didn’t matter though and Colney hung on to record an hugely-impressive win.
The top four may be out of reach but there is no reason why a strong finish to the season cannot be carried over into next year.
A trip to Wembley on Saturday starts that final countdown.
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