Honours were even in the local derby as Stevenage and Letchworth shared four goals. Stevenage are starting to find their way again this season after a second draw on the trot in the league. Superb defensive work from the back line of Tim Dingley, Toby Woo

Honours were even in the local derby as Stevenage and Letchworth shared four goals.

Stevenage are starting to find their way again this season after a second draw on the trot in the league.

Superb defensive work from the back line of Tim Dingley, Toby Wood, James Hamilton, Matt Oliver and Gary Brown saw the hosts hold their significantly higher placed neighbours.

Stevenage opened the scoring in this tight thriller when Henry Robinson struck home.

Letchworth pulled it back with a fine finish by Scott Apps taken on the reverse side, rising into the net effortlessly.

Unfazed, Stevenage again applied pressure, Olly Holt finishing off a great move to give them the lead again at half time.

The home side soaked up Letchworth attacks and robustly attacked during the second half.

But Letchworth equalised for the second time only a few minutes from the end through James Keel.

Other scores: Letchworth II 3 (Phil Wareing two, Preetam Rayat) Stevenage II 2, Stevenage III 3 (Andy Blaxill, Paul Youster, Harp Mann) Bedford Town V 0, Hertford III 1 Stevenage IV 5, Letchworth V 2 Stevenage V 0, Stevenage VI 1 (Geoff Trew) Letchworth VI 5 (Gary Pond hat-trick, Jeremy Hill, Andy Stroomer), Welwyn II 2 Letchworth III 1 (Steve Fleming), Letchworth IV 4 (Tony Major, Gary Puttnam two, Kevin Smith) Broxbourne V 2.

Blueharts continued to impress by beating Ipswich seconds 6-1.

The scoreline did not truly reflect the game, although Harts were without question the better side.

Will Pugh produced his best performance of the season to ensure the visitors only went home with the single consolation goal.

Harts set a fast pace from the start and it was not long before Simon Shorter converted a penalty corner with a fine strike.

Just before the break, in-form Ashley Hammond added the second from open play.

Harts came out after the break determined to score more goals and they did not have to wait long, Shorter and Hammond registering their second goals within 10 minutes of the restart, both coming from open play.

Skipper Oliver Hammond converted another well-rehearsed short corner to give Harts a five-goal lead.

Ipswich began to press the Harts defence and were rewarded for their efforts when a defensive error gifted them an easy chance to score.

This gave the visitors hope and for the next 20 minutes they continually laid siege around the Harts circle.

In spite of the pressure, Harts were able to counter attack at pace and it was one such attack that saw Jimmy Lewis convert with an excellent bouncing shot.

Lewis and Ashley Hammond should have added to the final score but they both uncharacteristically fluffed chances in front of open goals.

Other good performances came from Larry Hamilton and John Sapsed in midfield and Danny Fair and Matt Gardner in defence.

The victory saw Harts maintain third spot in the league and closed the gap on the leaders to four points.

The seconds were beaten 3-0 at Upminster.

MBDA performed excellently in a hard-fought 3-2 win at tough opponents Southgate Adelaide seconds.

Southgate opened the scoring though with a fairly simple move on the edge of the D.

MBDA set about their task in the second half.

Ross Revers grabbed an equaliser with some good skill close to goal but this was soon cancelled out by Southgate scoring again.

MBDA conceded a penalty flick soon after but new keeper Keith Scivier saved the shot.

They equalised after a brilliantly executed move freed Adrian Monks who brushed past opposing defenders to score. The winner was scored a few minutes later via Paul Lawman's trademark powerful shot from a narrow angle.