An injury-hit London Colney side went down to a 2-1 defeat at Harefield United in the South Midlands Premier Division on Saturday.

Tom Smith, Jason Beck, Greg Shaw and Daniel Millard were all ruled out of action while Dan Power suffered an ankle injury in the pre-match warm-up.

In the first serious Blueboys attack Cain Davey stung the fingers of home keeper Zaki Dublah as he managed to push the shot around the post.

Just as the Blueboys were looking like they were getting to grips with the game, they were caught out as an attack broke down and left-back Jack Copson sprinted away and crossed the ball to the far post where Mark Smith fired past Jack Smith to make it 1-0 to Harefield.

But, with only a minute until the break the visitors levelled the match. A long ball forward from Jack Woods caught Harefield out at the back and landed at the boot of Jimmy Hill, who unleashed a 25-yard strike into the bottom corner of the net.

Jack Smith was then forced into another save at the start of the second half when he kept out a strike from Ben Porter.

The hosts regained the lead from another quick breakaway when Mark Smith crossed the ball and Michael Chennells had a simple tap-in for Harefield.

London Colney thought they had equalised after Spencer Clarke-Mardel hit the post and smashed home the rebound but a linesman’s flag denied the visitors a second equaliser.

The London Colney Blues beat Abbots Langley in the Senior Cup 3-1 with goals from Glenn Ihama (2) and one from Conor Bromwich while the the Fourths won 2-1 against Langley CC in the Junior Cup with Anthony Donnelly scoring both goals.