In an even contest in which both sides were limited to just a handful of clear-cut chances, a goal from the penalty spot to James Rankin proved the difference.

Moments earlier, Colts player Guy Burgess had been brought down in the penalty area to give Rankin his opportunity, and he made no mistake.

The result ended a good recent patch of form for Abercrombie, who were coming off an upset win over then-leaders CSU Stags.

“We scored with about 15 or 20 minutes to go after Guy was brought down,” Colts goalkeeper Brendan Inwood said.

“To be honest, up until then there really hadn’t been a lot of chances for either side and the ball spent the majority of the game right in the middle of the field. It was pretty well contested.

“We were a bit worried going into the game that the field wouldn’t hold up very well with all the rain. It was a bit soft, but it was always going to be, and it held up quite well and allowed for a good game.”

Colts had slightly the better of things in the opening 20 minutes but couldn’t find a target with their last pass and, as such, couldn’t turn that dominance into goals.

They nearly paid a hefty price for their inability to convert when Abercrombie had a shot hit the post mid-way through the first half.

It would prove to be a decisive moment in the context of the match, according to Inwood.

“If that shot had have gone in, they probably would have been able to win, I think. They played quite well,” he said.

“But we felt too that if we were able to get one from those few half-chances early on, we might have been able to run away with the game and put three or four past them like we did last time.”

Inwood said the running of some of his team-mates was crucial in allowing him to keep a clean sheet.

“Nathan Shurmer was very good, Beau Yates up forward just didn’t stop running all day, and Stu Pennells at sweeper got through a lot of work. He took the three points for his effort,” he said.

“We’re not 100 per cent sure where it all leaves us at the moment with games still to be played and some teams having more byes and that sort of thing, but as far as we can work out we’re level with CSU at the top now.

“It’s not certain, but it looks like we could be playing one another in the major semi-final.

“Every team in the competition has a ‘double-bye’ at some point with back-to-back weeks off and CSU’s comes right before that final, so if we can stay where we are we will face a team coming off no games for three weeks.

“It is tough on all the teams because you feel like you’re getting on a bit of a roll and then it suddenly stops.”

CITY COLTS 1 (James Rankin) defeated ABERCROMBIE FC 0