Taurean Roberts scored the winner against his former club to earn Merstham a crucial 1-0 win over Tooting & Mitcham.
The winger capitalised on a mistake by cente-half Jordan Cheadle and fired into the bottom corner to hand his side three vital points in their play-off push.
Both teams started the game slowly, with possession changing hands often and chances hard to come by. Merstham looked to get in behind the defence and cross from the byline, but repeatedly gave the ball away in the final third.
Top scorer Tommy Hutchings looked increasingly isolated up front for Merstham as he was crowded out by the well-drilled Tooting defence. But the centre-forward had Merstham's first scoring opportunity of the game, firing wide from a tight angle after beating the offside trap.
Tooting & Mitcham's best chance of the half fell to Juan Onieva-Montalban. The winger broke down the right and went beyond the full-back, but his shot was pushed wide by Brannon Daly.
Managers and fans alike will have welcomed the break after a first half lacking in clear-cut opportunities, with both teams in need of a half-time pep talk.
Merstham made a much improved start to the second half, threatening through Roberts down the right and the hold-up play of Hutchings.
It was that combination that led to the goal in the 64th minute. Hutchings drove into the box down the left and was dispossessed by Cheadle, but the otherwise solid centre-half gave the ball straight to Roberts in a dangerous position. The winger made his former club pay, jinking past his man and finding the far corner with a low drive.
The away side nearly doubled their advantage just minutes later. A corner fell to George Craddock at the back post, but his attempt was cleared off the line and the rebound was saved by Gareth Williams.
The game fell into a familiar pattern from then on – the hosts rarely threatened while Merstham looked to soak up pressure and hit back on the break.
Tooting & Mitcham striker Craig Watkins pulled a shot wide from 20 yards out and Merstham saw out the remaining ten minutes comfortably.
With the win, the Moatsiders' incredible run of form continues. They have now won 13 of their last 14 games, and are just one spot away from the play-off places in the Ryman League Division One South.
