Blueharts ladies picked up a vital three points against Norwich Dragons in their battle to avoid the drop from East League Division 1N.
The success came on a weekend when there were more victories than defeats for the club, including the U12 boys and girls both winning county finals and therefore qualifying as champions to represent Hertfordshire at the East of England regional final in April.
The ladies defeated the Dragons 5-0 in hailstorm in one of their best performances of the season so far.
They played a quick passing game and dominated from the start, with Jay Livermore putting two goals away to give them an advantage at half-time.
The visitors tried to retaliate in the second half but were kept at bay by solid defending and saves by Ellen Robertson in goal.
Jo Floor and Emma Baxter worked tirelessly in midfield to counter-attack and switch the ball around the pitch and, cheered on by the crowd of supporters, Kate Chapman, Jo Floor and Naomi Cornell were also on target to give Blues a decisive 5-0 win.
They are now fourth bottom in the table, with four teams set to be relegated, with two games remaining.
They lie one point behind Bedford 2nds and three behind the Dragons.
Champions of Five Counties Division 1, the 2nds travelled to Rickmansworth and suffered their first loss of the season going down 4-1. There was a consolation goal for captain Claire Dainton.
The 3rds’ fight for promotion from Five Counties Division 2 continued at Leighton Buzzard.
The hosts took the lead and Blueharts equalised through Olivia Marsh.
Buzzards made it 2-1 at half-time before a clever ball from Amanda Donnachie found Marsh who slotted it in as the match finished 2-2.
The 4ths’ game was postponed due to an unplayable pitch.
Blueharts’ men, already resigned to relegation, played for pride against City of Peterborough.
Peterborough are a well drilled side, and in the first 20 minutes they hit Blueharts hard with four well worked goals, including two drag flicks.
The Blues came out strong in the second half, and they scored before Peterborough had touched the ball.
The pushback went back to Matt Gardner who released Chris Davies on one of his probing runs down the right.
He picked out Liam Connelly with an inch perfect cross for a diving deflection at the near post.
Peterborough, however, scored twice more to take the win 6-1.
The 2nds were away to West Herts, and goals from Graham Burr and Joe Jordan helped secure a 3-2 win.
The success takes them to second place in East League Division 2S and pole position for promotion.
The 3rds were at home against Rickmansworth and keen for points to aid their quest for promotion. Tom Wallis (two) and Chris Lendrum were on target in the 3-3 draw. The team now lie third in East League Division 4SW.
The 4ths played good hockey right from the start and went 1-0 up against St Albans 5ths when Tim Sporle connected with a ball spooned into the air off the keeper to reverse sweeping it into the net.
Sporle, again, and Ashley Hammond made the final score 3-0.
The 5ths played out a 0-0 draw at Cheshunt, while the 6ths earned full points after being given a walkover by the opposition.
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