Langford Ladies had a 2-0 home win on Sunday against Whitehawk at Herns Lane, Welwyn GC. Pegging back the Brighton side from the start, Langford were awarded a penalty on six minutes when forward Faye Rees was fouled. Laveena Betts stepped up and stroked

Langford Ladies had a 2-0 home win on Sunday against Whitehawk at Herns Lane, Welwyn GC.

Pegging back the Brighton side from the start, Langford were awarded a penalty on six minutes when forward Faye Rees was fouled. Laveena Betts stepped up and stroked home the spot-kick.

Langford had good possession in wide areas with Shelley Forster and Laura Shearwood involved, although the keeper was seldom troubled from the resulting attacks.

Home keeper Verity Crook had to leave the pitch after being knocked out when saving at the feet of Whitehawk's centre-forward, Laura Bright stepping between the posts.

The loss of Crook unsettled the defence and it was then that the visitors enjoyed their best spell up to the half-time interval.

Manager Paul Bright's team talk galvanised the side.

On 56 minutes, a headed clearance from Sophie Bailey found Betts in midfield, who lifted a pinpoint pass into Naomi Lyon's run. Lyon raced clear to extend the lead to 2-0 with a well-taken effort.

Langford were rarely troubled for the remainder of the match as the defence, marshalled by captain Sheree Oliver, protected Bright, who only had one scare from a free-kick.

Lyon, Betts and Rees all had close efforts to further increase the score as Langford finished their last game of 2006 with a well-deserved win that moves them up to seventh.

Langford squad: Verity Crook (Donna McGuigan 27), Nikki Day, Sheree Oliver, Sophie Bailey, Laura Bright, Debbie Styles, Laveena Betts, Naomi Lyon, Shelley Forster, Laura Shearwood, Faye Rees.

A rather lacklustre performance saw Hitchin Hearts drop two vital points at home to Sherrardswood in a competitive match.

They lost Sam Porter in the first half following a clash of heads that saw both players taken to Lister Hospital for treatment - both are recovering well.

The half finished goalless as both sides laboured on a heavy pitch.

Hearts looked more dangerous in the second half and chances went begging before a Laura Ravenscroft free-kick dipped in over the goalkeeper. With the girls thinking of three points, Sherrardswood struck back with a well-taken goal.

Despite putting the visitors under heavy pressure, Hearts could not break through a resilient defence.

Their player of the match was Paula Hawkins.