Enfield Borough again came away with nothing to show from a meeting from one of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One’s top teams when they lost by a solitary goal to leaders Harefield United at home on Saturday.

In a match where the elements caused both teams problems, Borough failed to build on a good first-half performance and the table-toppers left with their unbeaten league record intact.

Despite the result, manager Shaun Reece was not too downcast afterwards and said: “For the first time this season I am not disappointed with a defeat. We were playing the best team in the division and we matched them for the first 45 minutes.

“At half-time you could tell that it was destined to be a one-goal game and unfortunately we were poor in the attacking third of the pitch after the break, but there was very little between the two teams on the day.”

The hosts were the first to go close when a Jamiah Lawrence-Plentie corner caught the strong wind and goalkeeper Jacob Ballheimer could only touch the ball onto the far post.

Harefield responded when Tashan Jordan curled a 25-yard free-kick around the wall only to see it strike the foot of the post.

Borough skipper Guy Kiangebeni had to clear a goal-bound effort off the line, before the wind intervened again when a Sivi Bao cross floated over the stranded Ballheimer and hit the crossbar.

The end-to-end nature of the first half continued, with Enfield’s better attacking moments seeing Brandon McKenna combine with both Tage Kennedy and Richard Ennin to create shooting opportunities, but only the latter tested Ballheimer.

The impressive Kinagebeni did well at the other end to rob Lenny Farhall as the striker was preparing to shoot with only Curtis Jackson to beat, before the Enfield keeper diverted an effort from former Queens Park Rangers player Richard Pacquette up onto the bar and to safety.

In contrast to the first half, the start of the second period was devoid of scoring chances, but what proved to be the decisive moment arrived in the 67th minute when a cross was again caught on the wind as it headed towards the far post, Pacquette’s initial effort was blocked but Farhall slotted home from close range.

Enfield made three changes in an effort to get back into the game, but were unable to threaten the Harefield goal.