Callum Kealy’s goal just after the hour mark was somehow enough to secure the three points on a night when the visitors struck the woodwork four times.

Kealy tapped home from virtually the goal line after good work by Ollie Pearce had freed Reece Meekums down the right who delayed before delivering the perfect center for Kealy to convert.

The Reds started the day one place and two points above their opponents, who were fresh off the back of a gallant display in losing to League One Fleetwood in the FA Cup first round at the weekend.

City could have been ahead in the first minute when loose play by Conrad Honore gifted the ball to Zac McEachran who saw his shot come back of Harrison Male’s right hand post.

In a lively opening, Reece Meekums wasted a glorious chance down the other end just a minute later, getting on the end of a cross by debutant Reuben Livesey Austin, he controlled the ball beautifully but side footed wide from close range.

The Reds were there own worst enemy at times in the first half and more sloppy play after twenty minutes let in Joe Iaciofano but he dragged his effort wide, before McEachran struck the post for the second time five minutes later in similar circumstances.

The visitors were on top for most of the first 45 minutes but Adam Hinshelwood’s men came to life in the final few minutes before the break with both Kealy and Pearce flashing efforts just wide.

With the wind at the backs in the second half the Reds started brightly but again had the woodwork to thank when Aaron Williams-Bushell crashed a shot off the angle of post and bar.

They were made to pay for all their wastefulness in front of goal minutes later when Kealy struck to send the majority of the people inside the ground who had braved the adverse weather conditions into raptures.

When the visitors did manage a shot on target, Male was on hand to produce a superb stop to deny Josh Parker an equaliser, getting down low to his left to parry the ball the safety.

There was still time for the Hoops to hit the woodwork for the fourth time in the 87th minute when a low driven cross from the right was deflected onto the bar by a combination of a Parker and a defender, eventually falling into the grateful hands of Male.

The win is the Rebels first in the league at home since mid September’s triumph over Cheshunt and moves them up into 7th in the table, level on points with Braintree Town and St Albans City in 5th and 6th respectively.