Enfield Town fell to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Havant & Waterlooville at the QES Stadium who remain firmly in the Ryman Premier League title race.

Town conceded early on when a through ball from the left found Alfie Rutherford in the inside where he then outpaced Percy Kiangebeni to slot the ball past Nathan McDonald.

Hawks' Jason Prior could have made it two when he fed in by Bradley Tarbuck but his effort was well saved.

The Towners first chance came in the 22nd minute when Billy Crook's shot was kept out by keeper Ryan Young after Jordan Rose had blocked Karl Oliyide's initial volley.

Enfield were awarded a penalty on the half-hour mark after Oliyide had won the ball on the left and was brought down by Rose.

Crook confidently tucked the spot kick past Young to his right.

Ten minutes before the break, Young made a great save to keep Town going 2-1 up from Jon Muleba and Harry Ottaway couldn't quite get on the end of an inviting Oliyide cross.

Tyler Campbell was thwarted by a timely Tarbuck tackle just as he was about to shoot and for the Hawks, a Brian Stock free-kick drifted wide of the post.

Despite the first half being a tight affair, the second period was a different story as Havant went for the win which would keep them as close to Bognor Regis Town at the top of the table.

A diagonal ball from Rory Williams on the left created some confusion and, as the ball was played from left to right, Prior found himself in space to apply a finishing touch in the 49th minute.

And three minutes later, it was effectively game over, when Wes Fogden was given far too much space to net.

Town had few answers, although Kiangebeni did have a shot just wide as he surged forward, however, Paterson out the icing on the cake for Havant as he went past Harold Joseph and finished emphatically.

Sub Samir Bihmoutine and Kiangebeni again were both off target. And Paterson could have increased the margin of the victory with a curling shot that came off back off the post at the death.

The Towners face Needham Market on Saturday away from home (3pm kick-off).

Enfield Town: McDonald, Muleba, Campbell (Bihmoutine 63), Joseph, Kirby, Kiangebeni, Parcell (Quinton 70), Crook, Devyne (Wynter 57), Ottaway, Oliyide. Unused: Livings, Wilson.

Havant & Waterlooville: Young, Woodford (Molyneaux 75), Williams, Stock, Rose, Ed Harris, Fogden (Barker 82), Lewis, Prior, Rutherford Paterson 46), Tarbuck. Unused: Swallow, Carter.