Letchworth Ladies returned to winning form with a tough home victory against Sudbury. They got off to a positive start and had virtually all the attacking play in the opening half. Letchworth were unable to convert possession into goals, however, and it w

Letchworth Ladies returned to winning form with a tough home victory against Sudbury.

They got off to a positive start and had virtually all the attacking play in the opening half.

Letchworth were unable to convert possession into goals, however, and it was against the run of play that the visitors took the lead after 27 minutes.

In the second half, Letchworth continued to pile forward and deservedly equalised after just four minutes with a Sarah Parkhouse goal from a penalty corner.

Ten minutes later, with the visitors penned in their own half, the Whitethorn Lane side finally took the lead with a well-taken effort from Alex Beattie.

Although Letchworth set up several more opportunities, Sudbury defended robustly and even forced some fine saves from home keeper, Georgie Bingham, as they fought for a point.

Letchworth's all-round play was too strong though and they deservedly took the three points.

Other scores: Letchworth Ladies II 2 Blueharts 1; Letchworth Ladies III 4 Tring II 1.

Stevenage Ladies won by a single goal at home to Waltham Forest.

In a sometimes scrappy and even meeting, Stevenage worked hard to come away with three valuable league points.

Waltham Forest had yet to win a point since joining the league and were looking to open their campaign on unfamiliar territory.

Lisa Pickard, Stevenage keeper and player of the match, stopped a good chance when Forest broke through on the break.

In a one-on-one with the lone striker, Pickard was quick off her line and was able to do just enough to push the ball wide.

Midway into the second half it looked like an inevitable draw until Stevenage found a turn of pace.

Heather Hemmings drew the keeper and when her strike was saved, Hannah Finch was on hand to net her first goal for the first XI.

Stevenage kept the pressure on and were unlucky not to capitalise from subsequent short corners.

The pressure turned to their defence in the anxious closing minutes when three short corner awards in a row gave Forest the chance to equalise.

Keeper Lisa Pickard and the back line denied goalscoring opportunities and there was relief when the final whistle blew.

Stevenage remain fourth in the East League Division Two South, already a marked improvement on their campaign last season.

Other scores: Stev II 2 (Kath Phoenix, Harriet Richards) Bedford 0; Stev III 1 (Nicki Reynolds) Welwyn GC II 7; Stev IV 12 (Tash Rose five, Leona Robinson two, Louise Brasier, Gill Hamid, Becky O'Connor, Holly O'Connor, Claudia Strickland) Harpenden III 0; Stev V 0 Rickmansworth 7.

The second team of Blueharts Ladies played at Berkhamsted and Hemel on a grass pitch and came away 4-0 winners.

Hannah Ross opened the scoring with a fine strike at close range. Sarah Ince set up the second goal with a powerful strike in from outside the D which was deflected into the back of the net by Gina Joseph.

Ince took the third goal from an awesome strike at the top of the D and Jay Livermore scored the fourth.