Willie Clemons’s second half strike secured all the points for Stowmarket Town in a crucial 1-0 win at home over fellow promotion hopefuls Grays Athletic in the Isthmian League North on Saturday.

The Bermuda forward settled a cagey affair at Greens Meadow that failed to live up to expectation when he slammed home his seventh goal of the season from a cross after being afforded time and space to cap a fluent attack down the flank.

The visitors mounted a late rally but were unable to breakthrough and salvage something from a match that also saw Clemons’s compatriot Reggie Lambe feature prominently throughout.

It was a welcomed return to winning ways for Stowmarket having been held to a goalless draw away to lowly Basildon United in their previous league outing, which cost them the lead in the standings.

Paul Musgrove’s team, which has gone unbeaten in their last nine matched in the league, trail leaders Canvey Island by a point with nine matches remaining in the season.

The eventual league winners will secure the automatic promotion spot, with the next four teams to compete in a play-off for the remaining promotion place on offer.

Stowmarket are also on course for a league and cup double having secured their spot the quarter-final of the Suffolk Premier Cup.

They advanced to the last eight in the competition after coming from behind to beat nine-men Ipswich Town XI 3-1 in a heated cup tie at Greens Meadow on February 23.

Clemons was also on target in that match, positioning himself in the right place at the right time, to smash in Josh Mayhew’s parried shot in the 68th minute and put the game further beyond the visitors’ reach.