Boreham Wood 0 Kingstonian 1.

You need a little luck to win the title.....and Kingstonian had more than their fair share, sneaking a 1-0 win at Boreham Wood in possibly the most important match of the season.

Having dented Wood's championship hopes Ks boss Geoff Chapple then rubbed salt into the wound, signing Wood midfielder and former Wimbledon and Watford player Steve Talboys 48 hours later.

He insists there was no animosity, and that Talboys was very happy with Ks' bitter rivals. But the 31 year old has just gone into business with Dons player Robbie Earle in this area, lives close to the Ks ground, and has serious problems travelling to Boreham Wood around the notorious M25 for midweek matches.

He signed on Monday, having watched the two clubs battle it out on the pitch on Saturday, and will be an important acquisition as Chapple tries to bolster his squad for the last seven games of the season.

Saturday was a monster six pointer with both sides showing first half nerves.

Ks showed little invention in a poor first half, their long hopeful balls up front easily snuffed out by an efficient Wood defence. But a short spell of good pressure immediately after the break gave Dave Leworthy a chance in the Wood box. He made no mistake, firing high into the net for a vital strike.

But they had to endure a final quarter hour onslaught from Boreham Wood, who through everything at them in a desperate bid to keep their own title challenge on track.

"The final 15 minutes seemed more like an hour," admitted Chapple, who saw three Wood efforts cleared off the line, and another hit the woodwork.

"We didn't play particularly well, and kept giving the ball away in silly positions," he said. "The ball was pinging around our area more than I would have liked, and I think Wood will think themselves unlucky not to gave got something from the game."

But they didn't, and Kingstonian left Meadow Park knowing Wood would have to win all their four games in hand to go level on points with the Kingsmeadow favourites.

And they fell at the first hurdle, dropping two points in their Tuesday night encounter at home to Harrow.

With just seven games to go Ks are now in the driving seat, and know their destiny is in their own hands.

"There's no way we're going to let up now," insisted Chapple, conscious that complacency could be their biggest enemy. "We're showing real championship form and now is when we need to turn the screw. If we win it puts pressure on the others."

Ks entertain Aylesbury at Kingsmeadow on Saturday, which on current form should be a home banker.

But Aylesbury have won their last two matches, and they beat Ks 2-0 earlier in the season.

Ks reached the final of the Surrey Senior Cup after a 2-0 win over Whyteleafe last Thursday night.

A handful of the under 18 squad were drafted in for the tie as Ks struggled to overcome a mounting injury and suspension list.

They had an early scare when Jerome John pushed away a shot from Duncan Algar. But they soon took control and were a goal up after seven minutes when Kevin Rattray headed home.

And on 34 minutes Dave Leworthy made it two.

They face Chapple's old club, Woking on April 22 in the final, to be played at Sutton United's Gander Green ground.

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