Welwyn Garden City became only the second club this season to do the league double over Leverstock Green, who still cling on to their fifth place despite this defeat. However, they will require a win in their final game, and some help from others if they are to finish in the top six.

Green manager Mick Vipond felt his side played some good football in this match, but it was a forgettable affair of few chances that could have gone either way. The dry, bobbly surface was never going to make things easy, and in the end a solitary second-half strike separated the sides.

The home side should have taken the lead in the 2nd minute. A cross from Tom Lewis found Richard Morton a yard out with the goal at his mercy, but he somehow shot over the bar. Neither goalkeeper was troubled until the closing minutes of the first half. On 41 minutes a shot from Matt Wardle was deflected into the path of Mark Welling and James Armstrong, who both went for the ball, with Welling taking the shot, which was saved, when Armstrong felt he was better placed.

Graeme Milner was brought into action on 44 minutes, saving a header from Morton when a free kick found him at the far post. In stoppage time David Parkinson went on a mazy run into the Welwyn box and put the ball across goal, but just too far ahead of Armstrong.

The second half was similarly lacking in goalmouth action. On 58 minutes Adam Wallace played a through ball to Laurence Rispoli, whose shot beat Milner, but Kenny Hull slid in to clear the ball off the line. On 76 minutes Lewis's pass put Morton behind the Green defence, but he shot over.

With 12 minutes left Vipond made a double substitution, taking off Welling and Wardle, and bringing on Eddie Gerrard and Steve Flain. The change produced a goal, but not at the right end. Welwyn substitute Paul Marks found space on the left side, and lashed home a shot from a narrow angle to give his side a 79th minute lead.

Welwyn keeper Darren Bonfield was playing injured in the second half, but despite plenty of effort over the closing minutes Leverstock were unable to force him into a save, and eventually suffered a rare shut-out. They face Colney Heath at home in their final league game next Saturday, with the St Mary's Cup final against Tring to follow some time after that.