Harpenden Town scored a 4-2 away win over Wodson Park on Saturday to regain fifth spot in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One.

But as often happens they made it hard for themselves.

Within a minute they were behind when a Wodson through ball beat the defence and their forward skilfully lobbed keeper Liam Arnold.

That was tough on the young goalkeeper who made a positive impression on his first start for the senior team.

Harpenden equalised after 10 minutes after Tom Collin rising highest to head home a left-sided Jimmy Hartley corner.

But Wodson scored again before the break when a clearance from a goalmouth scramble was volleyed back into the net.

However, after the restart, and with the wind at their backs, Harpenden played with much more control.

Centre forward Jimmy Hill picked a long ball on the right after 60 minutes and shot from a tight angle to beat the keeper for the equaliser.

And then with 12 minutes to go Town took the lead, Hill blasting home after Jack Collins had got the better of Pablo Ardiles, son of Tottenham legend Ossie.

They made the game safe six minutes later, Hill turning provider this time for Hartley, who celebrated a welcome return to the side by blasting the ball home.

While happy with the win, manager Danny Plumb wants his team to take more control of games.

He said: “We can’t keep putting ourselves in the position we are by going behind to soft goals.

“We need to take the game by the scruff of the neck and pressure from the start.

“Having said that the conditions were hard with the wind and state of the pitch and I am very happy with the result and fifth place in the league.”

Harpenden have a tough run in to the end of the season playing the top two sides away with two tough Tuesday night matches at home.

The next game at Rothamstead Park is on April 5 against Codicote.