Wealdstone's 1-0 win over fellow contenders Kingstonian on Monday night was a performance of would-be Ryman League champions.

So said Elliott Godfrey in the wake of the victory at Kingsmeadow and the midfielder is better qualified than most to judge, having won the very title Wealdstone’s players and fans now crave while with Hampton in 2006-7.

He claimed the Beavers’ trophy win seven years ago was characterised by the sort of disciplined, no frills shift Stones put in against one of their title rivals.

And he maintained that, while everyone likes to see the free-flowing football traditionally associated with boss Gordon Bartlett’s side, it is the closing out of the scrappy successes which will see them reap rewards cum April.

“I said to the lads on Saturday, people might talk about the goals you score, but it is the 1-0 wins and especially the 1-0 wins when your back is against the wall that win you leagues,” he said.

“When I won this league at Hampton it was the 1-0s that did it, as we did not seem to batter anyone.

“We just picked up consistent 1-0 wins, horrible wins and that was not pretty today for any fans expecting our free-flowing football which never really happened.

“But it is still nice at the end of the day to come away having your 1-0 and everyone being pumped up about it and thrilled with the points.”

Godfrey, who also played in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Met Police, felt it was impossible to compare Stones’ class of 2013-14 with Alan Devonshire’s side of those years ago.

However, the former Canadian U23 international claimed another factor which would prove crucial in the men of The Vale’s latest quest for promotion would be their tremendous togetherness.

“Team spirit is very good at the minute in the dressing-room which is probably going to get you 10-15 points a season on its own, just by having that closeness,” he added.

“We have a great bunch of lads who it is nice to be around. The boys come in and even the lads who are not playing at the moment the morale is still high and they are keeping the boys on their toes which is a great thing to have happening.”

Bognor Regis Town will be a severe test of the team bonding Godfrey speaks of when Stones head to the south coast on Saturday.

The Rocks had won seven home games in a row prior to the

recent defeat to Maidstone and they got that out of their system by hitting five against Margate on Saturday.

Godfrey acknowledged the threat they represent. He added: “It will be nice to travel back from Bognor with three points. They did not start very well this season, but they are showing their potential now.

“On Saturday, it does not matter if it is pretty or ugly, as long as we end up with the three points. Another 1-0 – yes I’ll take that.”