Alfie Barker took his season’s tally to 26 goals as Codicote overcame Hatfield Town 3-0 in SSML Division One at Gosling Stadium this afternoon (Monday).

The on-loan Hitchin Town striker’s opener on 30 minutes, touching in from five yards out, finally broke the deadlock much against the run of play.

Hatfield battled valiantly in the second half but the completion of Barker’s brace six minutes from the end spelt curtains for the hosts and Marc Arnott put the bow on an excellent away victory deep in stoppage time after a slip at the back.

The Blueboys had seen a resurgence in form of late, winning three of their previous four games in all competitions, and they flew out of the traps at Gosling, the former home of the visitors.

Skipper Toby Kirkham’s menacing cross was only half-cleared by keeper Andrew McEwan in the 13th minute and defender Leon Opok crashed the loose ball wide from 20 yards.

Eight minutes later Michael Alderman delivered a similarly inviting ball into the area but Jack Sheldrake air-kicked 12 yards out and the chance seemed to be lost.

However, on retrieving the ball on the edge of the area, striker Darren O’Brien, who had notched five goals in four games prior to this encounter, was bundled over by Dan Harper with a free-kick being awarded.

O’Brien dusted himself down and curled a superb effort towards the corner of the net but McEwan did adequately to push the ball onto the bar and over.

Zach Marshall then brought another good save from McEwan, his angled drive firmly tipped around the post, before the visitors were to deliver a sucker-punch.

Hatfield were not able to clear an aerial ball and when James Todd found Barker in space in the box, there was only one destination the ball was heading although an initial block had halted the forward’s advances momentarily.

The home side could feel aggrieved about being a goal down at the break and five minutes into the second period it could have got even worse.

Harper’s dangerous left foot carved out a beautiful cross for Todd to direct at goal but the midfielder got his timing all wrong and the ball limped harmlessly wide.

For all their endeavour Hatfield rarely troubled McEwan in the second half, owed much to the staunch defensive work of Steve Young’s men.

With 19 minutes to go, a hoof upfield from Hatfield keeper Kieron Extence found striker Paul Otim on the run but having looked clean through his chance was eventually stifled by solid backline work and Cod survived.

That was to be the home side’s final decent opportunity to rescue the situation as Barker showed his class again.

Racing onto a perfect through-ball the forward lashed the ball beyond Extence calmly before equally coolly posing horizontally in front of the dugouts.

Reggie Ross, formerly of Welwyn Garden City, was unfortunate not to grab the third for his side two minutes into added time, shimmying past two Hatfield men before galloping towards goal and hitting the upright.

However, Kev Pearman’s men weren’t going to keep the score at 2-0 as another former WGC player gratefully gobbled up number three.

Chris Gray swung his right leg to clear the ball but slipped and allowed Arnott to sidefoot beyond Extence and secure Cod’s first league success in five games.

Hatfield will hope for better when they welcome Bedford to Gosling Stadium on Saturday while Codicote have almost a fortnight to revel in their derby victory as they next travel to Broadfields United on January 14.