Chalfont St Peter gained their revenge for the Red Insure Cup defeat at Northwood Park less than two weeks earlier while maintaining their serious push for top spot in the table with this narrow victory. The Saints’ side was much strengthened from the team that they had fielded previously and they set up to counter the perceived threat from the Woods wide men. Mark Burgess made changes from the team that had won at Hendon in midweek by picking exactly the same starting line-up that had played in the League Cup win.

It was a very tight, hard-fought affair from the start but it was the visitors who were more on the front foot and it was former Woods attacker Aaron Lansiquot that notched the first shot on goal after 14 minutes with a cross-shot that goalkeeper Berkley Laurencin had to tip over the top to be safe. The Woods were struggling to make any impact up front and after Lansiquot had seen another low effort miss the target, the Division’s top scorer Tony Mendy broke into the box but he was denied by a timely interception from Mark Burgess as he shaped to shoot.

But there was little goalmouth action to warm the crowd on a cold day and half-time was approaching when Northwood had their only sight of goal. Joakim Ehui was put through on goal and with just goalkeeper Michael Power-Simpson to beat, he appeared to be shoved from behind and his shot was beaten out by the keeper. Penalty appeals were waved away.

The Woods began the second half on the attack but Charlie Kennedy headed an Andy Lomas free-kick well wide and then Niko Muir fired weakly at the keeper when well placed. Anthony Thomas tried a long-range effort that had power but was straight at Laurencin before the Saints got their noses in front on 53 minutes. It was the one flash of real flair in the game as Lansiquot did well on the right, getting past Lomas and chipping a cross to the far post. Craige Tomkins was unmarked and he had time to take a touch before drilling a shot past Laurencin.

George Nicholas replaced James Burgess in an effort to salvage something from the game but Chalfont were happy to sit back in numbers and rely on the pace of Mendy to counter. He was offside on numerous occasions but he did get a shot in after 68 minutes which was well saved by Laurencin. Myles Stephenson was introduced for Joakim Ehui and he went closest as Northwood pressed forward. A corner broke to the substitute on the edge of the box and his low, goalbound shot was cleared off the line by a well-positioned Lansiquot.

But that was it. Chalfont, who introduced the giant former Luton Town and Nigeria striker Enoch Showunmi as a late substitute, appear to have been able to finance the building of a strong squad with potential to challenge for at least a play-off place this campaign.

The Woods will need to pick themselves up as they face two successive away games over the next two weekends. On Saturday they play the reverse fixture of the opening game of the season at an improving Arlesey Town and the following week they go to Egham Town, now managed by former Woods boss Gary Meakin.