Harpenden Town trounced third placed Baldock Town to stay top of the SSML Division One with a brilliant 4-0 victory away from home.

Harpenden played their best football of the season despite missing a handful of first choice players.

Manager Danny Plumb said: “I am really pleased especially with the performances of the young players who came in.

“Kyle McLeish had a great match and scored while Connor Sansom in goal kept a clean sheet and Joel Watson shut down the opposition in midfield.

“This was our best performance so far and now we have to move on and be concerned about Langford who we meet at home on Saturday.”

Harps started in style when after 11 minutes McLeish won the ball in midfield and passed to Harry Hunt ahead of him, but David Keenleyside stormed through from behind and Hunt slid the ball through for Keenleyside to cooly place the ball home for 1-0.

Right on half-time Harpenden went two up when Sam Jenkins headed on a ball in the penalty area to Jack Cartwright who volleyed home with an unstoppable shot.

Harpenden were on top throughout and after 63 minutes Hunt won the ball on the penalty spot, turned and fired.

The Baldock keeper spilled the ball and McLeish was there to blast in the rebound for 3-0.

Finally with ten minutes to go Jay Champkins-Drein threw in from the touchline and found Cartwright in front of goal who headed on to Hunt and with his back to goal spun and fired home for a 4-0 victory.

Looking back over the first half of the season Plumb said: “After three games we were bottom so it is a wonderful achievement to be top for 10 weeks.

“We are now on our second winning streak of nine games this season with just one loss in the middle of those runs.

“That is remarkable.”

Harpenden play Langford on Saturday in Rothamsted Park at 3pm.

On Tuesday Harpenden take on Wodson Park in the Division One Cup semi-final at home (7.45pm).