Crawley Green paid the penalty for a slow start to the new year at London Colney as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat in Molten Spartan SML Division One on Saturday. Jack Rowley opened the scoring for the hosts after eight minutes, when he netted from close range before Colney doubled their lead four minutes later, when Sam Mitchell scored from a corner.

The visitors rallied well and proceeded to dominate the remainder of the half. After missing a number of chances, they reduced the arrears on 43 minutes when Robbie O'Dell converted a neat chest pass from Peter O'Donnell.

In the second-half, the game was end-to-end and chances were created and missed by both sides on an increasingly difficult surface. Colney missed a late penalty when Dean Barker ballooned his kick over the bar and James Potter almost secured a point when his free-kick hit the post.

In Division Two, leaders AFC Dunstable are now three points clear at the top after a 4-1 win at Markyate. Michael Laws, Felix Kyeremeh, Ross Morrisey and Gareth Seeley were on target, while Rohan Deroses netted Markyate's consolation.

Elsewhere, a second-half strike from Lee Scott earned Kent Athletic a 1-1 home draw at home to Bletchley Town, while goals from James McCarthy, Stefan Tracey and Henry Mungwira fired Totternhoe to a 3-1 home win over Old Bradwell United. Caddington, meanwhile, went down to a 2-0 defeat against Mursley United.