Imperial Saints continued their unbeaten league run with a 1-0 victory over championship rivals Bristol City JSC in a tense game which failed to produce the dazzling football expected of the top two teams.

Jordan Pugsley, Saints' best player, scored the winner in the fourth minute.

City had the first effort on goal inside the opening minute when Matthew Martin launched the ball downfield where it was laid off to Louis Garner, who shot wide from 20 yards.

Three minutes later, a powerful header forward from midfield caused problems for a City defender, who completely missed his kick, and Pugsley used his phenomenal pace to latch on to the loose ball and slot home from the edge of the box.

Eight minutes later, Pugsley almost made it 2-0. The tall midfielder picked up the ball inside his own half before making a 40-yard run, stepping inside a defender and producing a great attempt which sailed just over the bar.

City's best chance of the game came on 17 minutes following a corner. Martin swung the ball over for James Burton to attack it with a strong header at the back post, but luckily for Imperial it was straight at the keeper.

Despite the evident quality on display, both sides struggled to get the ball down and play incisive football.

Seven minutes before the break, Imperial managed to keep the ball long enough for Pugsley to deliver a testing cross, which was just too high for Mason Daggar coming in at the back post. However, Dagger won back possession and eventually the ball was worked to Conor McCormack, who cracked his long-range effort just over the top.

A minute later, McCormack turned provider as he delivered a perfect cross which Pugsley back-headed a fraction wide.

The game seemed to liven up a little towards the end of the half, not least when Imperial's keeper dropped a searching cross from Martin, causing a mass scramble, but he somehow managed to regain control of the ball.

Wade Gwyther then flicked on a long goal-kick to send Dom Gage through. He still had a lot of work to do to beat the two City defenders giving chase before shooting, but Mitchell Craddock made a good save with his legs.

City's first chance of the second period came eight minutes in through Zak Meadows, whose effort just cleared the crossbar.

As in the first half, neither side seemed able to create clear goal-scoring opportunities, although good defending, especially by City's Ryan Day and Imperial's Shaq Walker, was a contributing factor.

Imperial nearly made it 2-0 10 minutes from time when Gwyther met a McCormack corner at the back post, but his downward header bounced inches wide of the post.

City went closer at the other end five minutes later when they won a free-kick.

James Burton struck the ball towards goal where it bounced horribly in front of Saints keeper Jake Holcombe, striking his torso and bouncing back into play.

Holcombe reacted quickly to punch the ball away but only into the path of another City attacker, whose shot struck the post and bounced back into the arms of the fortunate keeper.

Imperial Saints: Jake Holcombe, Ben Hawkins, Josh Phillips, Shaq Walker, Joe Meredith, Wade Gwyther, Conor McCormack, Harry Matthews, Ryan Hoskin, Jake Thomas, Dom Gage, Mason Daggar, Matt Earls, Callum Ham, Jordan Pugsley.

Bristol City JSC: Mitchell Craddock, Ryan Day, Sam Hemmings, Josh Scadding, Matthew Martin, Zak Meadows, Ryan Bell Langford, George Cryer, Liam Robson, James Burton, Grant Ogborne, Louis Garner, Ryan Saunders.

STAR MAN: Jordan Pugsley (Imperial Saints): Passed intelligently, showed tremendous pace and work-rate and got the all-important goal with a neat finish.