Michael Ademiluyi’s 19th-minute goal was enough for Haringey to bank the points at a freezing cold Coles Park on Saturday.

With the temperature starting to plummet, the hardy souls who came to watch Haringey’s seventh home game in just over three weeks, witnessed a goal of stunning simplicity worthy of winning a cup final, let alone a league match.

Brentwood, battling at the wrong end of the table but with games in hand, had inflicted Haringey’s first league defeat of the season back in November and were hoping for another three points to help in their fight to stay up.

But Haringey were the better side in the first half, with keeper Valery Pajetat having complete control of his penalty area, claiming high balls and saving whatever shots that did get through.

Anthony McDonald nearly scored on 10 minutes, when a 20-yard run and shot from the edge of Brentwood’s box was tipped over for a corner.

And nine minutes later Haringey scored as Pajetat caught a Brentwood corner and cleared upfield, where Ademiluyi controlled the ball, passed a defender, raced to the edge of the box, sidestepped the keeper and rolled the ball into the back of the net.

Ademiluyi should have made it 2-0 but put his shot wide from 10 yards just before half-time.

And Haringey thought they had scored again after the restart when Bradley Sach tapped in, but a linesman’s flag put paid to prolonged celebrations.

McDonald went close a couple of minutes later, with the Brentwood keeper saving well, but the visitors thought they were going to equalise before David Olufemi cleared the ball off the line.

Substitute Junior Appiah and McDonald again had chances to finish the game off but one goal proved enoguh for Haringey, who are now on the road for the next three weeks.

They visit Ware on Tuesday, then leaders Hornchurch on Saturday and Hertford Town on February 17, before returning to home turf to host Ware on February 24.

Haringey: Pajetat, Olufemi, O’Donoghue, Gordon, Mitchell, Staunton, Ademiluyi (Appiah 78), Richards, Sach (Edwards 61), Georgiou (Gabriel 62), McDonald. Unused subs: Rowe, Byfield.

Attendance 135.