Blueharts consolidated their top four spot with a 2-1 win over mid-table Dereham in a tough and often fractious encounter. Harts took the lead in the first half through an opportunist goal from Adam Wells whose performance throughout was excellent. Unfort

Blueharts consolidated their top four spot with a 2-1 win over mid-table Dereham in a tough and often fractious encounter.

Harts took the lead in the first half through an opportunist goal from Adam Wells whose performance throughout was excellent.

Unfortunately, just before the break, Dereham equalised which then set the pattern for the rest of the match.

No quarter was given which resulted in indiscipline from both sides culminating in three yellow cards for the home side.

Despite these setbacks, Blueharts maintained high standards of play and eventually struck with a well-taken goal from debutant Pete Cornell.

After some good defensive work, Oliver Hammond (shown right) stormed up field and found Dan Drew with an accurate pass.

Drew managed to find some space in the D and his shot on goal was expertly turned in by Cornell.

Blueharts managed to hang on for the remaining minutes with only a few scares to register an important victory.

They travel to runaway league leaders Harleston Magpies this Saturday with top scorer Jimmy Lewis returning although John Sapsed is unavailable through suspension.

Letchworth remained in second place after thumping Broxbourne seconds 8-3.

Hat-tricks from Scott Aps and Robbie Balsom were backed by two goals from Ian Heywood.

The second team, which plays in the same division, were without a game.

Other scores: Letchworth III 3 (Marc Bozdogan, James Keel and Ashley Brown) Blueharts IV 2; Welwyn GC II 1 Letchworth IV 1 (Will Masterson); Stevenage V 1 Letchworth V 1 (Gary Beaumont).

Stevenage were beaten 4-2 by the first team of Rickmansworth.

Other scores: Stevenage II 2 Royston 6; Stevenage III 3 Royston II 7; Stevenage IV 0 Potters Bar 1; Stevenage V 1 (Tony Farnan) Letchworth V 1; Stevenage V 0 West Herts VI 6.

MBDA avenged the previous week's 4-0 mauling at the hands of West Herts fourths by soundly seeing off their lower-ranked fifth team 3-0.

Paul Lawman opened the scoring before West Herts had one of their key players rushed to hospital to mend a broken nose.

MBDA scored the important second goal with Ross Revers sneaking the ball in and soon after Lawman got his second and the team's third.