The Reds, who have been left frustrated recently as the weather has disrupted their fixture schedule, showed great resolve to edge past a much-changed visiting side.

Brimsdown fielded 10 new signings in their 3-1 win over Hatfield Town the previous Saturday, so much of their previous form and league position coming into this encounter was almost an irrelevance.

It was clear from the early stages of this match that it was going to have to be a performance of patience and persistence from the hosts. They did their best to get the ball down on a tricky surface, but Brimsdown were intent on disrupting the flow of the game by any means possible.

Despite it being a scrappy half in the main, Baldock had a few decent half chances. Michael King took a lovely touch on the turn before forcing a save from close range. Alex Coppin brought a smart save out of the keeper with a good drive from 25 yards, whilst Anthony James headed over when unmarked in the penalty area.

The visitors didn’t create an awful great deal, but their pace in attacking areas made them a threat on the counter. From one such attack they almost took the lead. After Town surrendered possession in the Brimsdown half, an excellent run had a visiting forward in behind, but Jack Farmer did well to stay big and thwart the danger.

Baldock started the second half with a bit more purpose to their play and their efforts were rewarded with what proved to be the only goal on 52 minutes. A nice interchange between Luke Gregson and Harry Holland on the edge of the box resulted in the ball finding its way to Anthony James, who volleyed home superbly into the bottom right hand corner.

Town had opportunities to double their lead with Alex Coppin having an effort blocked on the line and Sam Perrin grazing the top of the cross bar with a shot from just inside the box.

Brimsdown were never out of it though and as Baldock got ragged and nervy as the half wore on, the visitors had a couple of excellent chances of their own. Rob Beckwith did brilliantly to block a goalbound attempt on the line, whilst Farmer made a good stop to deny a Brimsdown forward minutes later.

The visiting number 9 had been a bit of a nuisance all night, putting himself about one minute and then throwing himself to the floor under the slightest of touches the next. He won himself a free-kick and although the initial effort was blocked, his resulting cross-cum-shot had Farmer scampering. Fortunately, the frame of the goal came to the rescue.

The Reds thought they had wrapped up the points in the closing stages, but the referee ruled out a legitimately scored goal for offside. It wasn’t until after he had given it that he realised that a visiting player was down injured by the corner flag, meaning that he was playing everyone onside.

It was relief for him and the home side though when he brought proceedings to a close. This latest win reduces the gap to eight points to second-place Harpenden Town – with still three games in hand.

Luke Gregson’s men have no game on Saturday, so their next action is the visit of Kensington Borough to Roker Park next Tuesday – 7.45pm kick off.

Town: Farmer, Perrin, Payne, Beckwith, Kenna, Furness, Coppin, Gregson, Holland, James, King Subs Not Used: Robertson, Gilbert, Starling