The Reds were given a tough lesson about life at the top on Tuesday night in a convincing victory for the home side. Despite a battling second-half performance against opponents who already have that look of the division’s champions about them, Luke Gregson’s men had to accept a comprehensive defeat.

Biggleswade made a lively start and the pace of their attacks soon became evident. Either when sweeping the ball out to the flanks, or serving up through balls to powerful centre forward Tom Cookman, they were continually dangerous.

From one such move through the middle after 20 minutes, Reds keeper Adam Harpur had to make a fine one-handed from Cookman’s shot on the edge of the area. However, in the 34th minute another through ball found Cookman and this time he gave Harpur no chance, to open the scoring.

Five minutes after the resumption, Harpur was forced into a fingertip save and after more pressure in the visiting team’s area, Biggleswade captain Tom Coles made it 2-0 by heading home from close range.

To their credit, Town finally managed to free the shackles and make some forward progress of their own. Harry Holland’s curling free kick from the right was tipped over, and from Kieran Barnes’s corner Lewis Barker stabbed home from close range.

Play soon switched to the other end, though, and Myles Lee made a great clearing header after a couple of fortunate ricochets for the home side had left the right winger free to fire in a penetrative cross.

Baldock had the ball in the net on 64 minutes but the goalkeeper had been bundled over in the process, then Barker shot just over the top with a first-time left-footer.

Biggleswade reasserted their authority in the closing stages, however, and after Harpur had pulled off a cracking double save on the stretch, made another breakaway down the left. The visiting defence were stranded and an incisive low cross left Alex Marsh with the simplest of tasks to make it 3-1 and take Biggleswade to the top of the table.