Leverstock Green resumed their winning form as they earned an excellent three points in a tough game against Hillingdon Borough on Saturday. After resting many players in the midweek cup defeat at St Margaretsbury, Steve Heath returned to his strongest line-up for this one.

On a bitterly cold afternoon, this game took some time to get going. In the 11th minute Hillingdon defender Stefan Martin was caught in possession by Louis Austin, but made amends by deflecting Austin's eventual shot into the side netting.

Adam Hallissey was struggling with an injury from early on, and was eventually replaced by Lewis Pritchard in the 31st minute. Austin went close again in the 34th minute as he won the ball in midfield and went on a run before hitting a shot from a narrow angle over the bar. Carl Tasker had little to do in the first half, but on 38 minutes he saved with his legs when Kevin Wynter was put through on goal.

The game was still goalless at the break, but Leverstock almost went in front a minute into the second half when Charlie Gorman put Pritchard through on goal. Hillingdon keeper James Reading did well to tip Pritchard's shot over the bar. On 50 minutes Pritchard flicked on a goal kick to Austin, who ran at goal before crossing to the far post, where Dan Griggs couldn't direct his header on target.

There was a near-miss at the other end on 61 minutes when Leon Maloney hit a long-range shot over the bar. The game could have gone either way from this point, but two goals in quick succession put the Green in control. On 67 minutes Gorman's pass put Austin through on goal. Austin looked set to score, but a great last-ditch challenge from defender Andrew Silcott deflected the shot wide. From the resulting corner, though, Leverstock were awarded a penalty when Wynter bundled over Steve Hatch, a rash challenge given that Hatch was running away from goal at the time. Lee Bircham netted the spot kick to give the Green a 68th minute lead.

Hillingdon made a double substitution immediately after the goal, but within two minutes they found themselves further behind. Griggs played the ball forward to Austin, who ran at goal and took advantage of Reading slipping over to round the keeper and slot into the empty net for a 2-0 lead.

Hillingdon made a third substitution on 81 minutes, bringing on Stefan O'Brien, and four minutes after coming on O'Brien put his side back in the game as he hit a shot from outside the box which Tasker seemed to have covered until the ball skipped up off the ground and flew into the top corner.

Leverstock had to endure an uncomfortable few minutes as Hillingdon pressed for an equaliser, but they held on, and almost added another goal in the third minute of stoppage time as Gorman played Austin through, but Reading saved Austin's shot with his boot.

The Green are now entering a period of fixture congestion, with two midweek games coming up this week, at Langford on Tuesday night in the league, and at home to Stotfold on Thursday night in the quarter-finals of the Premier Division Cup. Steve Heath will no doubt be using the full resources of his squad over the next seven days.