Hatfield Town went top of the league last night (Tuesday) with a 3-1 home victory against Crawley Green.

Ben Alexander netted for hosts from the penalty spot on 12 minutes after Aaron Lewis was fouled James Potter.

The Crawley Green full-back picked up a yellow card for his troubles.

Hatfield went on to dominate proceedings; a forward three of Matt Hodges, Lewis and Alexander were causing Green’s defence all sorts of problems, but chances were spurned to extend the lead.

And as luck usually has it, the hosts were made to pay - though it took something special.

Picking the ball some 40 yards from goal, Liam Toomey looked up, and seeing Hatfield keeper Alan Buck off his line, fired in a precision shot that flew into the top corner.

The equaliser seemed to galvanise the visitors, and they probably shaded the last 15 minutes of the first half.

But whatever Hatfield boss Ashley Purser said at half-time seemed to do the trick.

Only a minute after the restart, they were ahead again.

Hodges on the right picked a perfect pass to find strike partner Lewis, and the prolific marksman fired past Dean Bull in the Crawley goal.

Hatfield had re-found their rhythm, and only a combination of poor finishing and creditable goalkeeping kept the away team in the game.

But their hopes were hit still further in the 71st minute when Potter, who had already been booked, hauled down Lewis on the break.

The referee adjudged Lewis to have been the last man, and in addition to the booking, the Green full-back received a straight red.

The vixtory was wrapped up only two minutes later with a well-deserved goal for Hodges.

Stevie Harper, who has arguably been Hatfield’s stand-out performer so far this season, swung an inviting ball into the box and there was Hodges to hook home.

The victory saw Hatfield move to the top of the table, two points clear of second-placed Harpenden Town who fell to a surprising 5-2 away defeat to FC Broxbourne Borough, managed by former Blueboys boss Micky Nathan.