In truth, this wasn’t a classic, but at this time of the season all Baldock need to do is keep winning and they got the job done here with a goal in each half.

Hatfield, to be fair to them, were dogged and hard working all evening, but they were never a threat. Baldock needed to show patience and persistence and in the end they got their rewards.

Luke Gregson made two changes to Saturday’s excellent away performance at Langford. Michael King returned to the Reds starting XI after a spell on loan at Southern League Kings Langley from parent club Hitchin. Josh Furness reverted to right back in place of the unavailable Adam Pitcairn, whilst Freddie Morris moved back into midfield in place of player/manager Gregson. Kenna returned at centre-half.

The Reds were in control from the first whistle and Owen Robertson, fresh from his fine performance at Forde Park on Saturday, was looking the most lively early on. A burst through the Hatfield defence ended with him shooting just over.

He went close soon after when Lee Harman diverted the ball into his path with a deft touch. This time Robertson shot low across the keeper and the Hatfield stopper did well to turn the ball around the post diving to his left.

The visitors had to wait until the 34th minute to make the breakthrough and it was certainly worth waiting for. King had looked a frustrated figure up until this point with a couple of things not coming off for him. However, he showed his class with a super drive from a tight angle on the right-hand side of the penalty area, after the ball was played into his path by Josh Furness.

Baldock should’ve doubled their lead just before the break when Freddie Morris danced around a couple of defenders in the box. His shot was blocked and the ball fell kindly for Harman, but his recent Midas touch in front of goal deserted him as he somehow shot over.

The Reds continued their domination of possession after the break, but they were just lacking a little in the final third. Freddie Morris and Lee Harman both had half chances in the first 15 minutes of the second half, but the score remained at 1-0.

The longer it remained that way there was always the concern that Hatfield might just nick something out of the blue. The only opportunities they had though were a free-kick from the edge of the box which sailed harmlessly over and a slip from Jack Farmer on a goal kick, but the referee spared his blushes by awarding a free-kick for encroachment.

Gregson introduced Luke Hennessey for Michael King on 72 minutes and within four minutes, he helped to wrap up the points. Hennessey’s pace and dynamism is always a threat and that proved to be the case here as he beat his man on the right before picking out Liam Kenna in the box and he expertly dispatched the header home for his first goal for the club.

Lee Harman had the chance to make it three moments later, but despite bursting through one-on-one, the Hatfield keeper did well to deny him.

When asked for his thoughts on the performance, manager Luke Gregson commented “I’m happy with the result. They didn’t trouble us, but I just thought we lacked quality in the final third tonight. The lads worked hard though and Hatfield made it difficult for us. There are no easy games at this stage of the season, so it is good to get the clean sheet and we go again Saturday,”

Having successfully negotiated another potential banana skin, the Reds can now go level on points with Biggleswade with their remaining game in hand at home to Broadfields United on Saturday – 3pm Kick Off.