London Colney put their exit from three cup competitions behind them as they picked up three points in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division with a 1-0 win at home to Cockfosters.
They left it late though, Bobby Armstrong powering in his fourth goal of the season with a bullet header five minutes from time.
And perhaps just as important as the three points was the clean sheet – only the third time this season their defences have not been breached.
The visitors started brightly with Nick Brown having a firm drive saved by a good stop from Jack Metcalfe.
Alex Gyasi and Manny Hammond then combined to setup Wilson Ferreira whose fierce low strike was pushed away by the Cockfosters keeper Lee Walker at the foot of his left hand post.
Walker then denied Hammond and when Laurence Vaughan did beat him from 30 yards out, his sizzling low shot rebounded off the post.
Just before the break Wilson Ferreira broke clear an unleashed a cracking shot which saw Lee Walker just managed to push around the post.
The chances kept coming after the break. Hammond headed just wide then Bruce N’Dala shot just wide of Metcalfe’s left hand upright.
The lively Vaughan went close again after being setup by a good pass from Dan Heald who had just come on but it was not all one way as Phillip Agathangelou let fly from long range only to see Metcalfe make a brilliant save at his far post.
As the match seemed to be heading for a 0-0 draw, Ronnie Smurthwaite, another Colney substitute, had an excellent downward header saved on the line by Walker.
But then came the breakthrough. A free-kick out on the right wing was swung into the box by Vaughan for Armstrong to rise up and power his header beyond Walker.
Although Cockfosters pressed hard for an equaliser the Blueboys defence held firm and did not crack as in other matches and give away a late goal.
The win was their seventh of the campaign so far and lifts them up to eighth in the table.
The Blueboys are away to Tring Athletic on Saturday before entertaining St Margaretsbury on Tuesday.
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