LETCHWORTH Ladies shared the points in a bruising East Premier League derby against local rivals St Albans. The hosts started brightly, taking the lead after just 10 minutes when Helene Wehrmann dribbled through several defenders to strike the ball sweetl

LETCHWORTH Ladies shared the points in a bruising East Premier League derby against local rivals St Albans.

The hosts started brightly, taking the lead after just 10 minutes when Helene Wehrmann dribbled through several defenders to strike the ball sweetly into the visitors' net.

Letchworth then failed to capitalise on further chances to kill the game and allowed Saints to equalise after 18 minutes from one of their rare early attacks.

Worse followed when Letchworth lost defender Helen Barrett with a broken arm, when a visiting forward took a wild swing at a bouncing ball.

Bizarrely, neither umpire claimed to have seen the incident which went unpunished.

The second half was scrappier with tempers increasingly fraying.

Letchworth went behind 10 minutes into the half from a penalty corner and needed all their resolve to fight back.

Another Wehrmann goal seven minutes later, this time from a penalty corner, gave Letchworth a deserved share of the points.

It was the home side who looked the more likely to score in the closing stages.

Although Saints lost a player to the sin bin after another bizarre incident when, after arguing vociferously with the umpire, she staged a sit down protest on the goalline delaying the taking of a penalty corner, the home side were unable to capitalise.

Letchworth face a tough away game at Bromley and Beckenham this Saturday.

Other scores: Letchworth Ladies II 1 (Lauren McLean) Saffron Walden 3; Letchworth Ladies III 2 (Sue Saunders, Rebecca Swift) Bedford III 5; Letchworth Ladies IV 1 (Ali Adams) Broxbourne IV 3.

Stevenage Ladies won 2-0 against Gore Court to move up to fifth in the table.

After being put under pressure at the start, Stevenage defended well and then got into the swing of things.

During this time, right-back Jo Biggs was taken to hospital with a bad injury to her hand.

Stevenage did not let this affect their game and won a short corner struck well by captain Carly Seaton for Kath Phoenix to knock in from the post.

The second half started well but Stevenage started to tire and were under pressure for a period which saw some good defending and excellent saves from keeper Lisa Pickard.

Eventually a break from Tennille Lee saw her slickly pass to Seaton in the centre who was able to get the ball through to centre-forward Lucy Harvey.

With just the goalie to beat, Harvey slipped the ball left for Heather Hemmings to seal the win.

Other scores: Stevenage Ladies II 5 (Debbi Church hat-trick, Kate Scorer, Bec Howe) Saffron Walden 3; Stevenage Ladies IV 1 (Maggie O'Connor) Berkhamsted and Hemel 0; Stevenage Ladies V Rickmansworth 9.

Blueharts Ladies notched up another home win by beating Chess Valley 3-0.

Harts once again started the game strongly, winning several short corners and an early first goal.

Lizzie Bayley's strike was saved by the Chess Valley goalie but fell to Carol Lamey who put the loose ball away.

Player of the match Jo Floor led the way in midfield as Blueharts piled more and more pressure on the Chess Valley defence.

Jay Livermore scored a second goal before half time, picking the ball up just outside the attacking D and taking it around the keeper for a fine solo effort.

Although Chess Valley came back strongly, they were unable to find a way through a solid defence. Harts sealed the win with a second goal for Lamey, deflecting a shot by Kerry Ross just inside the post.

The second team won 3-1 at third placed Vauxhall Chiltern. After a goalless first period, Harts scored their first via Gina Joseph after being set up by Emily Guyton.

Vauxhall were awarded a penalty flick to level but Harts went on to win thanks again to the Guyton/Joseph combination for a second and player of the match Susie Powell powering home a terrific shot for the third.