After four wins and a draw, Welwyn United finally tasted defeat in the Beds & Herts Women's League.
And it came at their King George home, going down 3-1 to Leighton Woodside who replace them at the Division Three summit on goal difference.
Welwyn were playing into the wind in the first half and Leighton used it to their advantage, taking the lead early.
Nicola Mcrae, Emma Bowers and Tracey Pilon did try to open up the visiting defence and the impressive Willow Wright went close to levelling on her debut with a long-range effort, before Abigail Rowark saw her chance collected by the Leighton keeper.
And instead two further goals left Woodside with a commanding 3-0 lead at the break.
With the wind behind them, United came out strong but three free-kicks in close succession couldn’t be converted despite several goalmouth scrambles.
A fine effort from Mcrae narrowly missed the target, before top scorer Bowers unleashed what’s becoming a trademark long-distance screamer into the top left corner to claw one back.
More chances came and went after that for Welwyn before the final whistle but they couldn’t convert in time.
They go to third-place Ruislip Rangers Res on Sunday.
In the Spartan South Midlands League, AFC Welwyn were held to a 1-1 draw away to Buckingham.
And they were indebted to a goal two minutes from time from Scott Bridges to save them from a second loss of the Division One season, the former Royston man converting a penalty.
Will Howes had put Buckingham in front with almost 15 minutes to go, scoring from inside the centre circle.
In Division Two, Codicote advanced in the SSML Division Two Cup by beating Aston Clinton 3-1.
Bailey Knight scored twice and there was one for Jordan Kinoshi.
They return to the league on Saturday when they go to MK College.
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