There were goals galore as Blueharts won 8-3 at Dereham. Despite a slow start, Harts produced a superb performance as the goals flooded in. Colin Burnell netted first with a fine drag flick but Dereham punished defensive errors and quickly took the lead t

There were goals galore as Blueharts won 8-3 at Dereham.

Despite a slow start, Harts produced a superb performance as the goals flooded in.

Colin Burnell netted first with a fine drag flick but Dereham punished defensive errors and quickly took the lead themselves.

Harts started to settle and some good play around the circle created the equaliser for Jimmy Lewis from close range.

They were then reduced to 10 men when skipper Oliver Hammond received a yellow card for a deliberate body check.

This did not stop the momentum as a second short corner was converted by Burnell with another excellent drag flick which gave the men from Hitchin a 3-2 lead at the break.

After an inspirational team talk from coach Malcolm Miller, Harts came out flying in the second half and for 20 minutes played their best hockey of the season.

In this period Harts put five goals past Dereham without reply.

John Barrett seemed to pick the forwards out with ease with man of the match Lewis scoring another three, with strike partners Ashley Hammond and Simon Shorter bagging one each.

Harts forgot to actually defend in the dying minutes and allowed Dereham to score a third.

Other good performances came from Matt Gardner at the back and second-half substitute Larry Hamilton in midfield.

This impressive win sees Blueharts move back up to third in Premier A, and they host second placed Harleston Magpies this Saturday (Hitchin Boys' School, 1.30pm).

The seconds also ran up a cricket score as they thrashed Ford 7-1.

Phil Britton broke clear to start the rampage before the following 20 minutes produced another four goals.

Gary Fung had two clinical finishes while Britton completed his fastest hat-trick in 21 years of hockey!

Ford had no response until late in the half with Blueharts down to 10 men.

Britton added a further two strikes to make it seven, with only a token response from Ford.

Never-say-die Letchworth came from behind four times to earn a draw against revitalised Luton.

Matt Smith, Ian Heywood and Scott Apps were on target in the 4-4 draw.

Letchworth remain third in the table but trail second placed Shefford and Sandy by five points.

The seconds kept their promotion hopes alive with a comfortable 3-0 win at Bishop's Stortford thirds

Phil Wareing, Tom Butler and Dane Hirst scored their goals.

They remain in second, three points clear of promotion rivals Royston and Welwyn Garden City.

The thirds were beaten 2-0 by Shefford and Sandy seconds.

Their fourth XI also now sit in mid-table after a disappointing 5-2 defeat at West Herts fourths (Neil Osmond and Paul Bellingham).

The fifths closed the gap on the leaders Harpenden fourths to eight points and are now four points clear in second place in Division Eight South West.

James Badcock scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Southgate Adelaide thirds.

The sixth XI were held to a 5-5 draw at Southgate Adelaide fourths despite being 5-2 up at one stage.

Mike Turner and Andy Stroomer (two apiece) and Jeremy Hill scored the goals.

Stevenage were beaten 6-2 at Southend despite a brace from Ollie Holt.

Other scores: Stevenage II 1 Bishop's Stortford II 3, Southgate Adelaide II 4 Stevenage III 2, Stevenage IV 3 (Ian Brown, Tariq Mahmood, John Mould) Welwyn Garden City IV 2, Stevenage V 1 Royston IV 5, Royston V 3 Stevenage VI 0.

MBDA have made it seven wins in a row.

They continued their impressive run of form with a satisfying 2-0 win over fellow promotion-chasers Cheshunt seconds.

The first half was end-to-end, and both sides seemed unlucky to reach half-time goal-less.

MBDA began to assert themselves after the break.

An early short corner was well guided past the keeper by Ross Revers who later added his second in almost identical circumstances.