Prime faced old foes Woodlands Reserves without keeper Lewis Kerton, defender Rich Davis and top-scorer Carl Barker. Jamie Barker filled in betweeen the sticks with Chris Gilbert restored to the starting XI and Pete Ferguson started up-front against his old side alongside player-manager Ashley Goldsmith in his 100th appearance for The Numbers.

Overy, Sander and Goulding all returned to the bench.

Woodlands kicked off but it was clear from the outset that this was not going to be a repeat of the 6-0 drubbing that the Tonbridge outfit handed out at the start of the season. Prime were snapping into tackles and Abu and Henshall were quicker to the ball than their central-midfield opponents.

Despite the sharp start, Prime were behind on 15 minutes when Woodlands were awarded a free-kick on the half-way line. The ball was chipped into the box and their on-rushing striker converted well, giving Barker no chance.

Prime kept their heads up and continued to press the title-chasing visitors back. Flamank and Chapman were looking dangerous down both flanks and whenever Prime won a throw-in in Woodlands territory, Chapman delivered his ridiculously long throws into the box. Unfortunately for the home side, the ref deemed it perfectly fine for Woodlands' defenders to climb all over Goldsmith's back, but as soon as the tall striker challenged for the ball he was pulled up for a foul!

As the half wore on, Woodlands started to find their rhythm - but they found Prime's defence in a belligerent mood with Gilbert and Barnham excelling against their respective wingers and Ellis and Cary continuing to look one of the league's best centre-half pairings.

There was a big scare though when Woodlands attacked down the left and with goalkeeper Barker stranded, Ellis came to Prime's rescue with a superb goal-line headed clearance.

This incident seemed to boost the purples and they produced their best bit of football of the half soon after. Gilbert played the ball into Goldsmith's feet. The gaffer held off his man and fed Ferguson on a diagonal run into the box. The powerful striker held off 2 Woodlands defenders before squaring for Chapman whose chip beat the keeper but cannoned back off the underside of the bar.

Henshall also had time to fizz a 20-yarder just over the bar as Prime finished the half in the ascendancy.

The second half continued in the same pattern and with 50 minutes on the clock, the home side got a much deserved equaliser from an unlikely source.

Chapman's huge throw cleared Goldsmith and his possé of markers, but Gilbert timed his run to perfection to chest the ball down and slide the ball home.

Woodlands responded by making a substitution and they were soon back in front after a long ball over the top cleared both centre-backs and despite Barker making an excellent 1 on 1 save, the ball was bundled into the net despite Cary's best efforts on the line.

No matter. Within 5 minutes Prime were back on level terms. Chapman jinked inside his man and sprayed the ball out to the right to the marauding Flamank. His cross-shot was deflected kindly into Goldsmith's path and he stuck out a long leg and slid the ball into the net to mark his 100th appearance for the club in style.

It was now anyone's game and both sides were going for the 3 points. With 20 minutes left, Goldsmith withdrew himself and Flamank - sending on Overy and Sander in response to 2 more Woodlands changes. It was a heavy pitch and tired legs were likely to be a factor.

Woodlands wasted a couple of glorious chances when their striker blazed both high and wide of Barker's goal, but Prime also threatened through Ferguson and most notably when Chapman's wand of a left-foot curled in a teasing cross which Sander missed by inches as he hurtled in from the right-wing.

The excellent Barnham was replaced by the ageless Goulding for the final 5 minutes but with just over a minute left, Prime's hearts were broken when the Woodlands striker finally found his radar and smashed home a left-footed finish low into the corner of the net - again leaving Barker helpless.

The visitors admitted that a draw would have been a fair result but it was not to be. Prime did not play football as they can today but all 14 players put in a committed, battling performance that could not be faulted and would have won them 3 points on most occasions.