HARPENDEN TOWN are beginning to lose their footing in what had appeared a procession earlier in the season and, after going down 3-2 at home to mid-table Brimsdown Rovers on Saturday, March 1, their six-point cushion over Pitstone & Ivinghoe is all of a sudden annoyingly uncomfortable.

"We've just got to hang in there," said Town co-manager Graham Golds. "We worked so hard to win with ten men against Leverstock, and then throw it away like this. We've got to be beating sides like Brimsdown."

Harp took an early lead when co-manager Gordon Guile slotted home Adam Price's ball, but two goals before the break, the second a penalty needlessly conceded by Matt Tibbs' stand-in at left-back Dan Price, saw Rovers ahead, and that lead was extended with a free header from a corner after 55 minutes.

Adam Price headed Harp back into the match, but subsequent chances for Golds (cleared off line) and Guile (against angle) were not taken and Pitstone, with a 4-0 victory over Leverstock Green on Saturday, have quickly become title-favourites.

But, with 11 games left, Golds still believes his team have a significant say: "We've got Colney Heath home and away and Pitstone & Ivinghoe at home. We've got to beat Pitstone or we won't win the league." First it is Ampthill Town on Saturday.

It was an equally bleak day for their local rivals, and exactly which Colney Heath will turn up for Saturday's Centenary Trophy semi-final against World Class Homes Premier Division side Chipperfield Corinthian is preoccupying manager Geoff O'Vell this week.

His players have taken him on quite a journey since Christmas. Their last six league games have produced three victories and three losses, ranging from a 7-1 demolition of Shillington to Saturday's 2-1 defeat to relegation-candidates Luton 61 FC.

"Off the back of good results on Saturday and then Wednesday, that inconsistency was there again against 61 FC," O'Vell said. "Maybe we're a little over-confident against teams from the lower half of the table."

As poorly as they played though, results elsewhere maintained their interest in the promotion chase while stringent ground requirements, which casts a shadow over two of the side's above Colney Heath, serves as another motivating factor.

"If there is a back door open, we'll willingly take it," O'Vell said.

Not if they repeat their performance against 61 FC, they won't. Danny Bright conceded possession for the first goal, and it was 2-0 when Fizz Khan, attempting to clear the danger after Stuart Amey had made the save, stood on the ball inside his own six-yard box.

However, the tide turned when the visitors were reduced to ten men before the break, and a fight-back was on the cards when Mark Mezen tapped home with 15 minutes remaining. But Colney Heath's charge was hamstrung when Dean Parrott saw red for dissent, and Mezen's late effort against the bar confirmed it would not be their day.

After their hit-and-miss league form, Colney Heath accept Saturday's cup diversion somewhat reluctantly: "We said at the beginning of the season our priority was the league. But it's nice to win any cup and we're only a game away from a final now.

"I expect Chipperfield will be a strong side that can play football a bit that's a diplomatically as I can put it. But we'll respect them like we would any side that reaches a semi-final."

Striker Scott Ladley is still struggling to be fit, while Mezen could be one of three central midfielders unavailable.