Harpenden fell to just a second defeat of the Herts Cricket League Premier Division but they may have picked the best weekend to do it - as the two teams directly beneath them also failed to win.
In fact, they stretched their advantage by picking up 11 points in the 59-run defeat away to Totteridge Millhillians.
That was because Potters Bar had to settle for eight points in a draw with Bishop's Stortford.
Harpenden lost the toss at Totteridge and were put into the field.
And the hosts were in good form, making 292 before being all out to the penultimate ball of the innings.
A lot of that was down to opener Ned Eckersley who made 128 in 168 deliveries before being fourth man down with Totteridge on 248.
The pick of the Harpenden bowlers was Usman Malik with 5-71 in nearly 16 overs, aided by 3-54 from Ben Frazer.
The start of the Harpenden innings was not what they wanted, losing four wickets for just 20 runs in five overs.
Olly Batchelor (53) and Frazer (64) tried to settle things down with 106 for the fifth wicket but they both went in short order, leaving Harpenden on 136-6.
Malik (44) and Harry Seagrave (32*) pushed the score on but any hopes of a draw were ended after 45 overs.
Third-placed North Mymms also lost, with the one-wicket win lifting Radlett up to fourth.
The visitors to Home Farm were chasing a target of 181 and they got to it in the 44th over.
But they needed three sixes from Kabir Toor to get the runs required after being left on 162-9.
Toor finished unbeaten on 52 while William Wright got 36.
Earlier on Md Nidheesh had taken 6-49 in 18 overs with Toor adding 3-52.
St Albans picked up a draw away to Chorleywood in the Championship, on a day where all bar one match ended in the same result.
Jamie Regan led the fight for Saints with 101 but they fell away late on as they pushed for the win.
Max Capaldi had starred with the ball in hand for them, taking 6-55 in 18.2 overs.
It means they stay bottom, 56 points behind their hosts and safety.
Redbourn nailed a vital two-wicket win over Sawbridgeworth to move 32 points above the relegation places in Division One.
Josh Arnold's 4-45 held the visitors to the Common to 233 in their innings, and a third-wicket partnership of 101 from Conor Yorath (66) and Harry Cobb (48) eased them towards the victory.
There was a little wobble but 39 not out from Ethan Bury saw them home in the 48th over.
Both Wheathampstead and London Colney won in Division Three B, Wheato beating Cockfosters by 72 runs and Colney edging out Hoddesdon by a whopping 177 runs.
Ricky Zeidermann got 90 for Colney, with 63 from Tim Fretter too, while there was 83 from Harry L'Estrange for Wheathampstead.
However, in Division Four A, Sandridge were beaten by Old Camdenians.
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