St Albans Ladies returned to action in style after a two-week break, beating bottom-of-the-table Garston Ladies 4-2 in the Beds and Herts Women’s Football League.

The home side started the brightest with Kerry Twigg striking the underside of the crossbar before Sophie Lawrence and Molly Slade gave Garston keeper Janine Rodgers some work to do with threatening efforts on target.

The Lady Saints eventually took the lead on 38 minutes when Ellen Salter’s corner created a goalmouth scramble, from which Slade was able to fire home.

Jessica McNamara, playing in her final match for St Albans, nearly made it 2-0 before the break, but her strike strayed a couple of inches wide.

St Albans started the second half brightly but on 55 minutes Garston drew level against the run of play when a mistake at the back allowed Emma Trill to slip the ball past Lauren Croucher from close range.

Garston were level for just nine minutes before Salter stepped up to put St Albans back in front from the penalty spot, following a foul on McNamara in the area.

More defensive frailties gave Garston the opportunity to equalise almost immediately and once again it was Trill who took advantage and put the visitors level for a second time.

The game remained poised at 2-2 until the 78th minute when Nicola Dark scored from a rebound after Rodgers had first denied Salter, putting St Albans back in front.

Salter then finished from close range soon when McNamara picked her out with a low cross into the box, giving the home side a two goal advantage.

Although Garston nearly hit back quickly again when Carolin Bialecki struck the post from close range, the Lady Saints had done enough to claim the victory, putting them fifth in the table.