2023/24 Season - Week 17

Photo credit: Gregory Owain

Blueharts Men’s 1s’ were rewarded for their 180-mile round trip to Norwich on Saturday when they beat the University of East Anglia 2-0.

A powerful drag flick from Sam Rees which wrong footed the UEA keeper put Blueharts ahead while a reverse stick strike and Jack Floor clinched the points for the Hitchin side to keep them third in the East Premier Division.

The Ladies 1s were 3-2 winners over Cambridge City 3s and move to within a point of their opponents in the East Women’s Premier Division. From the starting whistle, they played with a positive intensity, passing the ball around really well. They were rewarded with a goal within 10 minutes from a pattern of play which worked its way from the defence for striker Helen Clarke to slot away neatly. Unfortunately Cambridge responded well and put away a short corner effectively. The blues continued to work hard as a unit with fantastic pressing from Harriet Marsh, Emily Fair and Jay Livermore. The defence line of Caz Kumar, Sophie Featherby, Beth Jepson and Nat Gilder were so consistent in their tackles and transfers. Clarkey earned herself a second goal before half time. The second half carried on in the same vain with Cambridge digging deep to make a comeback. The third goal came for Olivia Marsh who volleyed the ball into the net after a fantastic attack down the right from Isla Campbell. Despite Cambridge getting another goal back to close the gap, Blueharts did well to keep the lead until the final whistle.

It was a also a successful Saturday for the Ladies and Men’s 2s – goals from Chloe Leutchford, Ally Antoniou, Lucy Nissan, Isla Watts, Kate Sherwood and Julie Rees gave the Ladies 2s an emphatic 6-1 win over Bishops Stortford 4s.

And the Men’s 2s also hit their Bishops Stortford opponents for six, with man-of-the-match Jamie Williams scoring twice in their win which keeps them four points clear at the top of East Division 2 South West.

It was a great day for the Williams family on Saturday with Jamie’s younger brother Rory also on target twice and man-of-the-match in the Men’s 5s 4-1 win at Broxbourne.

Williams was joined on the scoresheet by fellow youngsters Joel Davey and Oscar Whitley in an ideal preparation for this Saturday’s match against table-topping Hertford.

The Ladies 3s continued the Blueharts winning streak with a 4-0 victory over Royston – a goal from Kiki Arellano and two from Josie Layton, with assists from Tamzin Wright and Lizzie Bayley put the 3s 3-0 up at half-time.

The Wright-Layton combination worked to great effect after the break, with Layton completing her treble.

The hard-working Izzy Rutter took the player-of-the-match honours but there were also standout performances from goalkeeper Cindy Dixon and defenders Sophie Woods and Nicky Turnbull as the Blues kept a clean sheet.

Skipper Alice Saunders connected well with the pacy Meme Brown in attack, while the tenacious Amy Pryle, Emily Bryan and Jo Floor were also outstanding.

Two goals from Will Hammond and one from Ben Phillipson gave the Men’s 3s a 3-1 win at Southgate Adelaide – only their second away win this season.

Philipson’s reverse stick shot into the bottom corner broke the deadlock midway through the first half, while dogged defence from goalkeeper Paul Martson and centre back Nathan James kept the 3s in front.

Hammond struck in the second half to double the Blueharts lead but Southgate hit back to narrow the deficit.

But another fine passing move with two minutes left ended with Hammond finding space in the D to round off a fine after noon with the third goal for the 3s.

Although they were held to a 1-1 draw, the Ladies 4s put in an excellent performance at top-of-the-table Bishops Stortford, with Alice Winton on target for Blueharts and Daisy Bradford taking the player-of-the-match honours.

The Ladies 6s faced a powerful Rickmansworth side who quickly went 8-0 up in the first half. But a tactical switch stemmed the flow of goals in the second half and Izzy Marshall managed a consolation before the finish.

Debutant Georgie Morey was an outstanding player-of-the-match for the Ladies 7s who travelled to Welwyn Garden City without any substitutes – but still came away 3-2 winners.

The 7s had to come from a goal down but battled back with a stinging strike from Susie Powell and went ahead when Imogen Ryden rounded off an attack which began on the halfway line.

The side were tiring in the second half but nevertheless added a third from Esme Thompson after a penalty corner.

Welwyn fought back to make the score 3-2 but the 7s hung on for a memorable win.

Goals from Niamh Krishman and Jo Mickleburgh helped the Ladies 5s to a 2-2 draw against their Bishops Stortford opponents while Joe Grennell was on target for the Men’s 7s in their 1-1 draw at Royston.