Mid-table Lemsford FC led twice thanks to Matt Jones’ double but eventually succumbed to their third successive league defeat on the North Herts Arena’s 3G pitch on Saturday, losing 3-2 at Baldock Town Reserves.

Things began well for the visitors as Jones touched home from close range but within two minutes Baldock were level as hat-trick hero Robbie Wilcock grabbed the first of his haul.

Nine minutes before the break Jones struck from a tight angle for 2-1 and it looked as if Danny Pickett’s men were on course for a first three points of 2017.

However, two Wilcock goals in the final 14 minutes ended Lemsford’s winning ambitions. They are without a success since hammering Croxley Community 6-3 on December 10.

Following the late loss, Lemsford assistant manager Ian Scofield told the WHT: “I’d say it’s the best we’ve played for a few weeks now.

“The results haven’t been great lately but we were really positive in this game and if we keep playing like that the win is just around the corner.”

The hosts carved out the game’s first opportunity in the 10th minute.

Wilcock’s shot was only parried by keeper Andrew Spencer but defender James McFarlane snuffed out the danger before Steve Fletcher could pounce on the loose ball with the goal gaping.

Moments later Luke Radley charged in from the left and his weak cross hit the post and bounced wide.

The momentum slowly swung in the away side’s favour and they found themselves in front on 20 minutes.

Jones was lurking inside the box and beat custodian Adam Meadows with a crisp shot.

The away side’s joy was short-lived though as Wilcock found space in the box and shot past the helpless Spencer.

Lemsford struck back immediately as Radley struck a fizzing volley not far off target.

With Lemsford regaining the ascendancy they retook the lead.

Jones cut in off the right and with the defender backpedalling he cutely clipped the ball beyond Meadows from an angle for 2-1.

Radley then thought he’d made it 3-1 but his effort was wrongly chalked off for offside.

In-form Jones chipped the ball into his colleague’s path and Radley raced clear and confidently curled into the far corner but the flag was up.

Lemsford kept up their intensity in the early minutes of the second half and Jones should have grabbed his hat-trick.

Alex Scofield pinged a ball across to the striker but Meadows made a fine stop to deny him.

The majority of the second period belonged to Baldock though and soon after both Luke Hennessey and Wilcock had failed to make it 2-2, the Reds were finally level.

The aforementioned duo combined, with Wilcock bringing down Hennessey’s cross before smashing a shot in off the post.

From there Lemsford were hanging on and with four minutes to go, a beautifully-weighted corner was met by the leaping Wilcock who twisted his neck muscles and diverted in.

Lemsford host sixth-placed Hinton in the league at Welwyn Playing Fields on Saturday.