2024/25 Season - Week 12

A Nat Gilder double helped Blueharts Ladies 1s to a tense 3-2 win over local rivals Letchworth in East Division 1 South on Saturday.

The Blues controlled the early stages with plenty of possession and were rewarded with 1s debutant Meme Brown opening the scoring with a fine deflection.

Gilder then converted two penalty corners to put her side in a dominant position - however the 3-0 lead was soon whittled back to 3-2 by the visitors.

Blueharts nevertheless held on to move third in the table ahead of their match with the side immediately above them, Old Loughtonians this coming Saturday.

Ben Apperly was also on target twice for the Men’s 1s but unlike the Ladies, they lost by the odd goal in five to Bedford in East Premier Division.

In a closely-fought game, Bedford went into the break 1-0 up before man-of-the-match Apperly hauled his side level from a short corner.

Bedford re-took the lead only for Apperly to repeat his trick from another short corner and equalise a second time for the Blues.

The 1s looked on course for a point at least but missed a string of chances near the end, while Bedford needed just one to pounce and claim all three points.

The Ladies 2s were held to a 1-1 draw at Berkhamsted, who went onto the front foot from the start – but were denied by some brilliant defending from centre half Sophie Woods.

Blueharts took the lead when a Carly Madders effort was deflected into the air by a Berkhamsted defender, the ball being brilliantly brought down by Nicarra Berry and smashed home by Josie Layton.

However, Berkhamsted levelled before the break and the 2s needed goalkeeper Sophia Gallagher to come to their rescue before they were able to clinch a well-earned point.

But the Ladies 3s were 4-2 winners over Rickmansworth after a lightning-fast start which saw them score twice in the opening four minutes.

There were two goals for Kat McLarty and one each for Jules Rees and Fiona Hutchings – Emily Bryan producing a Player of the Match performance.

Four could well have been five but Hutchings blocked a goalbound shot with her head just before half-time – she shrugged off the headache to score her goal after the break to seal the points.

Meanwhile a tempestuous match for the Ladies 4s saw them battle to a goalless draw against Shefford and Sandy.

It was a match in which the card count was high including cards for Becky Graves and Isobel Chapman.

Niamh Krishman and Ella Lock went close, and Becky Brierton was taken down when one against one with the Shefford goalkeeper but the 4s couldn’t force a winner.

The Men’s 2s were beaten 3-1 at home by Sudbury, while a brilliant Oscar Hammond goal helped the 3s to a 2-2 draw at Southgate Adelaide, dad Ashley adding the other.

The 3s are now just three points and one place above the 4s in the table after the 4s thrashed Bedford 5-0 with two for William Hammond and one each for Joe Dalrymple, Ollie Brigginshaw and Gillan Ide.

It was a contrasting afternoon for the Men’s 5s and 6s – the 5s losing 8-0 at Vauxhall but the 6s putting 12 past Southgate Adelaide to move top of Division 5 South West, with a mighty goal difference of plus 46.

There was a hat-trick for Paul Krishman with doubles for Charlie Moore and Gavin Bidgood and one each for Mark Russell, man-of-the-match Harri Flinn, Dave Moore, John Russell and Barry Smith.

Megan Thomson-Wells and Chloe Buglar’s goals helped the Ladies 5s to a 2-1 win against Chiltern with Hannah Hume taking the player-of-the-match plaudits.

Meanwhile the 6s were held 1-1 by Letchworth despite an Izzy Marshall goal, and the 7s were beaten 4-0 by Welwyn Garden City.

Harry Palmer scored twice for the Men’s 7s as they beat Harpenden 4-0, Ben Silveston and Alec Gadsden also on target.

The Men’s 8s are still unbeaten after a 3-0 win at Broxbourne in a game which featured a first-ever Blueharts goal for veteran Chris Hone.

Thomas Flinn and James Moore scored the other goals, both provided by Thompson Brown.