Hat-tricks fire Blueharts to a perfect weekend, while club is also runner-up at Herts Service to Sports Awards

Harri Connelly (Image: Archant)

All three adult teams had success at home, while the club also achieved second place for Community Club of the Year behind Dacorum & Tring Athletics Club in the Herts Service to Sports Awards 2015.

This is recognition for all the hard work and commitment of the club’s volunteers and coaches.

Men’s results

In match action, the 3rds welcomed Hertford to Hitchin for a replay of the game from November 28 when the lights went out with 10 minutes to go.

Then the 3rds were winning 6-4 when the abandoned game was stopped, so expectations were high that this rearranged game would also see plenty of goals.

The whole team played well in the first half, but it was Harri Connelly who put in his best performance of the season with his first goal between the keeper’s legs.

The second came from a counter-attack that started from a tackle outside their own D and a driving run and two accurate passes cut through the Hertford defence to Connelly who committed the keeper and then struck into the open goal.

Soon after, Chris Lendrum made a strong run into the D but was taken out by the opposition keeper. A penalty flick was awarded but missed by Sam Rees.

The third goal came from a short corner with Connelly slapping the ball into the bottom left corner for a first half hat-trick.

A goal from Dominic Lloyd-Williams put the 3rds 4-1 up at half-time before a fifth came from Lendrum.

The season of goodwill to all men appeared to be lost on Dominic, who denied Kyle Watson a well-deserved goal by helping the ball over the line with a few centimetres to go to secure his brace.

Watson was rewarded by a goal of his own to secure a comfortable win that puts the team second in the East League Division 4SW table, two points behind leaders Southgate Adelaide.

Blueharts 3rds have scored more goals than every other men’s team in the East League with 61 goals in 12 games.

Women’s results

The 3rds triumphed with another win completing an undefeated 2015 to keep them three points clear at the top of Five Counties Division 2.

This week their opponents were West Herts, and the 3rds started well with an early goal from Niamh Krishman.

West Herts fought back but Jessica Miles in goal made some brilliant saves on the floor and standing up to keep a clean sheet.

Krishman went on to score her second of the match shortly afterwards followed by a third completing her first hat-trick of the season and earning cheers from the home crowd.

The 4ths were rewarded with a well-fought 2-0 win against a visiting Saffron Walden side.

It was an end-to-end game with player of the match Ruth Hicks tested countless times in goal.

Corrine Russell put the 4ths ahead with a classy move which outwitted the keeper.

With the first goal chalked up, the nerves started to settle but only temporarily as Saffron Walden took the game to the home team’s D right up to the half-time whistle.

Excellent passing and teamwork in the second half saw the ball moved at lightning speed around the pitch. Debbie Thomson, Hannah Rossi and Izzy Davies all helped to push the ball goalwards with support from Sarah Wilmott in centre midfield.

Eventually persistence paid off with Helen Ferguson tapping the second in from close range and earning the 4ths all three points.