Stevenage netted their first win of 2008 in a furiously contested 11-goal thriller! The home side started slowly against Bishop s Stortford thirds and found themselves 1-0 down to a controversial strike. Stevenage responded almost immediately when Gary Br

Stevenage netted their first win of 2008 in a furiously contested 11-goal thriller!

The home side started slowly against Bishop's Stortford thirds and found themselves 1-0 down to a controversial strike.

Stevenage responded almost immediately when Gary Brown crossed for Danny Blackburn to fire in his first of the afternoon with a well-placed strike.

Man of the match Dan Parker then made a great goal-line clearance following keeper Tim Dingley's fine double save.

The visitors regained the lead with a well-worked penalty corner, only for Blackburn to draw the scores level again a few moments later.

Brown and Blackburn both went close before John Mould smashed the crossbar with a ferocious effort.

Stortford took the lead for a third time just before half time with a great strike from a dubious penalty corner.

The second half started as the first had finished, with lightning pace.

Chris Strickland and Matt Oliver came close for the home side and Dingley pulled off some impressive stops to keep Stevenage in the game.

Mould drag flicked an inch-perfect shot from the top of the D to give the Stortford keeper no chance to make the score 3-3.

Stevenage lost concentration and found themselves behind again.

Fast counter attacking hockey seemed the order of the day as Brown broke free and was fouled in the area resulting in a penalty flick for the home side.

Hat-trick hero Blackburn stepped up to net his third and bring the scores level once more.

Goalscorer Blackburn then turned provider as his cross found Ben Oliver, flicking high to the back of the net to give his side the lead for the first time in the match.

Stortford equalised again but there was still time for Stevenage to grab a winner.

With just a minute remaining, Mould and Brown combined well to set up Strickland who fired home the decisive goal.

Letchworth were 4-1 winners over Bishop's Stortford seconds.

Robbie Balsom's hat-trick was supported by a goal from Ian Heywood.

The seconds shared four goals with Upminster (Dane Hirst and Phil Wareing).

Other scores: Letchworth III 3 (Ben Abbott, Nigel Sutton, Chris McIntyre-Brown) Letchworth IV 1 (Alex Moys); Royston V 1 Letchworth V 5 (Steve Nicholson two, Nick Pye two, Gary Beaumont); West Hampstead VII 1 Letchworth VI 1 (Ian Cooper).

MBDA threw away a two-goal lead, and two precious points, in sharing four goals with Vauxhall seconds in an ill-tempered match.

They led against a depleted side thanks to Paul Lawman smashing in a short corner and the same player repeating the trick.

Vauxhall's confrontational style of play never allowed MBDA to fully settle into a steady rhythm.

With Vauxhall's numbers finally increased to normal, they pulled level in a tempestuous second half.

Their first goal was disputed and the equaliser came practically on the final whistle from a distinctly average short corner.