Leverstock Green reinforced their position in the top six of the SSML Premier Division with another hard-won three points on Tuesday night, but it was far from a classic encounter with Dunstable Town at Pancake Lane. The league's two longest survivors in the FA Vase have both played much better football than this, but perhaps both clubs' punishing schedules are now catching up with them.

The game was decided by an early penalty. As a Leverstock corner was crossed into the box, the referee spotted Dunstable keeper Paul Taylor pulling back Ben Butler, and pointed to the spot. Lee Bircham squeezed his kick inbetween Taylor's hand and the post for his 13th goal of the season in the 6th minute.

There were shouts for a penalty at the other end three minutes later as a ball over the top put Luke Abraham in. Carl Tasker came out of his goal, but Abraham got his shot away just before the two collided in the box. The shot was across goal and wide, and the referee saw nothing wrong with Tasker's challenge. The rest of the first half was very scrappy, with the only chance for Leverstock coming in the 23rd minute when Louis Austin headed wide from a Bircham free kick.

The second half opened more promisingly. In the opening minute Jon Davies played a one-two with Ben Butler in a sweeping move down the left. Davies' square ball into the box was behind Austin, but ran through to Dan Griggs, who ballooned his shot over the bar. Three minutes later a quickly-taken free kick by Griggs put Butler through, but his shot was across goal, and too far ahead of Austin, who was running into the box.

From then on it was Dunstable who played the better football, while Leverstock resorted too often to hitting long, high balls down the field to little effect. Dunstable were fortunate not to go down to ten men when Damen Pickering was only shown the yellow card for an off-the-ball dig at Austin, within four minutes of coming off the bench.

Dunstable's best chance came ten minutes from time when a neat move concluded with Abraham threading a pass through to Lincoln, but Tasker saved his shot from point blank range, and also saved a free kick from Lee Burgoyne in the 89th minute. Green might have sealed it in the last minute when Adam Hallissey interchanged passes with Steve Hutchins before squaring for Lewis Pritchard, but a defender slid in ahead of Pritchard to clear.

In the end Leverstock held on for a scruffy win, but it still counts for three important points.