2023/24 Season - Week 5

A Ben Apperley hat-trick formed the centrepiece of Blueharts Men's 1s’ thumping 8-4 win over University of East Anglia at Lucas Lane on Saturday.

Apperley’s treble included two penalty strokes in a match which had hung in the balance with UEA trailing just 4-3 in the second half.

Apperley had opened the scoring early on with man-of-the-match Harvey Walton Adams doubling the lead shortly afterwards.

But a series of mistakes allowed UEA back into the match and they duly converted their opportunities to level at 2-2.

That was the cue however for the home side to step it up, with a Graham Burr short corner and Apperley penalty giving Blueharts a 4-2 lead.

UEA grabbed one back but Blueharts forged ahead once more and this time capitalised upon their lead with goals from Burr, Ethan Gaunt, a first of the season for youngster Jack Floor and another Apperley penalty.

The Ladies' 1s were also in the goals on Saturday, beating Cambridge City 3s 4-2.

City went 1-0 up only for Jay Livermore to level for Blueharts towards the end of the first half.

A penalty corner saw Cambridge re-take the lead but once more Blueharts levelled things, this time through Holly Christie.

A well-rehearsed penalty corner routine resulted in skipper Anna Page giving Blueharts a 3-2 lead and Page struck again from another penalty corner before the end to secure an important three points for the 1s who now move up to fourth in the East League.

The Ladies' 2s also had that winning feeling as second-half goals from Jules Rees and Kate Chapman earned them a 2-1 win over Bishops Stortford 4s.

The win was secured by an excellent defensive display with Sophie Barker, Annie Nicholls and Emma Sadler outstanding.

Jo Floor ensured Saturday was a family affair by emulating her son Jack with a goal in the Ladies' 3s’ emphatic 5-2 win at Royston which keeps them top of East Division 3 South West.

Kiki Arellano opened the scoring with Floor also laying the foundations for the Blueharts win with their second goal.  

Josie Layton made it 3-0 before the break, while a brilliant goal-line save from defender Bex Turner was in vain as Royston pulled a goal back.

A Tamzin Wright strike restored the three-goal lead but a penalty flick to give Royston a flicker of hope.

However player-of-the-match Meme Brown snuffed out any chance for the home side with Blueharts’ fifth.

The Ladies' 4s were beaten 4-1 at Bishops Stortford 5s, despite a Kat McLarty goal and a player-of the-match performance from right wing-back Honor Bentley.

On a bright note, a Milly Winton strike gave the 5s a hard-fought 1-0 win over Stortford 7s, while the 7s' match was cancelled by opponents Potters Bar.

Another Saturday, another win for the Men's 2s who hit nine past Bishops Stortford 3s with Matthew Maylin and Adam Wells scoring twice and one each from Richard Middleditch, Ben Phillipson, Nick Ross, Ollie Rowe and Kyle Watson – and a player-of-the-match performance from Charlie Ryan.

Sean Storey gave a standout display but the 4s were beaten 2-0 at Broxbourne 2s.

However two goals from Pete Mitchell and Oscar Whiteley and one from Ashley Hammond gave the 5s a 5-3 win over Broxbourne 3s - in a topsy-turvy game where Blueharts led 4-0 only to allow their opponents three goals in six minutes!

Meanwhile, youngster Harri Flinn was on target for the Men’s 7s in their 1-1 draw against Royston which featured a solid performance in goal from Will Faulkner.