Wealdstone’s remarkable start to the National League South campaign continued on Saturday with a late 1-0 win over Oxford City.

Michee Etefe notched the only goal with seven minutes to go to extend the Stones’ lead at the top to seven points over Havant & Waterlooville with a record of nine wins and one loss from the opening 10 matches.

Both sides demonstrated good attacking intent in a fast-paced opening period, although it was the hosts who came the closest to opening the scoring early on when Jacob Mendy fired towards goal, only to be denied by Harry Isted’s save.

Oxford’s response was to come even closer on 21 minutes when Josh Ashby’s free-kick looked to be heading for the top corner, but Aston Oxborough managed to get a hand to it to tip over the bar.

Despite the let-off, Wealdstone were still looking the more likely to break the deadlock, although Oxford were compact in their defence and kept out the lively duo of Billy Clifford and Danny Green until the half-time break.

A speedy start to the second period almost saw the Stones draw first blood when Green chested the ball down for Mendy to fire narrowly over.

With the game still goalless going into the latter stages, Wealdstone were resorting to long-range efforts in an attempt to edge ahead. It almost paid off, but substitute Phil Roberts saw his shot from just about the halfway line fall agonisingly wide of the post.

The mounting pressure from the Stones finally told late on though, and it turned out to be a simple goal as Etefe rose above the Oxford defence to head Green’s corner past Isted, sending the home fans wild as they celebrated an eighth straight victory.

They will look to protect that record away from home this weekend when the side travel to mid-table Welling United.