Gary Cohen scored his first hat trick for St Albans City on Wednesday as the City First XI, billed as the Reserve side, defeated Harlow Town 4-2 in a Capital League Central Division fixture at Barrows Farm.

Having recently scored his first goal of the current season Cohen looked a rejuvenated player and after scoring a couple of early goals against Harlow went to give a display full energy, enterprise, and most importantly, genuine threat.

City had Paul Bastock, Justin Clayton and Jonathan O’Donnell missing from the side that faced Newport County on Saturday while Luke Thurlbourne also returned from suspension to replace Godfrey Poku. Covering for Bastock was Danny Margott, Mark Peters lined up alongside Ryan Frater in place of Clayton, and David Galbraith took the place of O’Donnell.

Harlow also fielded a number of First teamers and the play, on a damp evening, was lively from early on with Margott stretching well to tip over a fine effort from Danny Bleach within the first three minutes.

City were ahead two minutes later when James Quilter played the ball inside to Thurlbourne who, in turn, found James Fisher down the right flank and from his low cross Cohen bundled home the opening goal.

Oliver Cleaver had already forced Margott into one save before scoring a sensational equaliser on 15 minutes when drilling the ball over the City keeper from fully 40 yards.

St Albans regained the lead eight minutes later when Solomon Shields threaded the ball through the middle for Cohen to take it in his stride and shoot clinically low to Waite’s left.

But again Harlow struck back swiftly with Reece Dobson pouncing on a loose pass by Fisher and cracking the ball past Margott on 25 minutes.

Less than a minute later Harlow striker Daryl Doolan picked up the first booking of the night following a shocking late and high challenge on Quilter.

Galbraith made several useful contributions late in the half, the first of which saw Adam Everitt head over from a free kick.

Five minutes from the break Waite comfortably held a well struck Galbraith free kick and a minute later the one-time City trialist did well to tip over another Galbraith set piece.

City’s persistence paid off in the third minute of added time when Waite punched a crisp Thurlbourne free kick into Everitt with the ball rebounding into the goal.

Quilter, with stud marks half way up his left leg, failed to reappear for the second half but did confirm that he will be fit for next Wednesday’s trip to Lewes. Frater also sat out the second period due to feeling unwell.

Castle performed musical chairs to accommodate the arrival of substitutes Poku and Tegana James. Everitt was moved to central defence, Alex Bailey, playing on the right in the first half, switched to the left, and Thurlbourne moved to right back.

St Albans had several decent chances to extend their advantage but were made to wait as Galbraith blazed one good chance high over the top while Waite did well to recover lost ground and deny the former Spurs player an opportunist goal from 30 yards.

James was the next City player to be frustrated by the Harlow custodian while Cohen went close with a header from a Galbraith cross.

Dobson fired across the face of the visitor’s goal when well placed while Cleaver almost scored a second glorious goal but this time his effort from 25 yards just cleared the City goal.

The points were finally made safe on 82 minutes when James clipped a clever ball up to Cohen on the edge of the box. The former Grimsby Town player neatly lobbed the ball over one defender before hammering home his hat trick goal.

Jonathan O’Donnell is set to return to action tonight, Thursday, as the City Youth team face Aveley at Mill Field in the final qualifying round of the FA Youth Cup. Kick off is at 7.30pm.

Harlow Town: J.Waite, M.Pelley, J.West, M.Clary, D.Hunt, O.Cleaver, D.Bleach, J.Mason, D.Doolan, T.Ositola, R.Dobson, subs used; A.Robinson, C.Kirby, Hamsin.

St Albans City: D.Margott, J.Quilter (T.James 46), A.Everitt, L.Thurlbourne, R.Frater (G.Poku 46), M.Peters, S.Shields, J.Fisher, G.Cohen, A.Bailey, D.Galbraith.

Booked: Doolan, West, Pelley.

Referee: David Axcell.