2023/24 Season - Week 2

A win at rivals Old Loughtonians is always high on the season’s wishlist for Blueharts teams so the men’s 1s’ 3-1 victory in Essex on Saturday was especially satisfying.

The result was much needed after last week’s defeat against Letchworth and the Hitchin side took the game to Old Loughts from the first whistle.

Their proactivity was rewarded with a well-worked goal from Graham Burr and when Ben Apperley converted a short corner, Blueharts were in a commanding position.

The side kept their foot to the floor and continued to dominate possession and carve out chances, Nick Ross shooting wide when well placed.

Blueharts thought they had scored a match-clinching third only for Richard Julian’s effort to be ruled out, while James Byford looked like scoring when he rounded the keeper only to shoot wide.

That all-important third goal did eventually arrive however with man-of-the-match Burr scoring with a drag flick low into the corner.

Old Loughts got onto the scoresheet late on but it proved a mere consolation and Blueharts made the trip back to Hitchin with a well-merited win.

It was also a satisfying day for the Ladies 1s who got the better of City of Peterborough 2-1 in the Eastern Premier League at Lucas Lane.

Peterborough’s vast experience at this level showed in the early stages as they dominated possession but any chances were expertly dealt with by Grace Thomson in the Blueharts goal.

The home side started to assert themselves but Peterborough opened the scoring before the break.

However coach Stefan Taylor’s rousing half-time team-talk did the trick for Blueharts in the second period as the home side were finally able to mount periods of sustained pressure.

Their dominance was rewarded when Jay Livermore was in the right place to tuck away the rebound after a save by the Peterborough keeper.

By now Blueharts tails were up and they found a way through the Peterborough rearguard once more thanks to a dazzling run from Paige Vorster who found Harriet Marsh on the back post to score.

The home side needed Thomson to help them over the line however as she earned the player-of-the-match award for her collection of brilliant saves which helped earn Blueharts the points.

Elsewhere on Saturday, there were four Blueharts v Stevenage clashes – with Blueharts winning all four.

Two goals from Ellie Johnson and one apiece from Jules Rees and Chloe Leutchford earned the Ladies 2s a fine 4-3 win against Stevenage 1s, in a game where Blueharts created plenty of chances in a promising first half.

Stevenage though rallied after the break and Blueharts were grateful to goalkeeper Lara Wildon who made some excellent stops to preserve her side’s lead.

There was another Blueharts win over Stevenage for the Ladies 3s who beat Stevenage 2s 4-1 with two goals from Josie Layton and one each from Izzy Rutter and Tamzin Wright.

But there were also standout performances from midfielders Alice Saunders and Meme Brown – while player of the match Ottilie Summerhayes was part of a resolute defence which limited the opposition to just the one goal.

The Ladies 6s beat Stevenage 5s 4-1 with Helen Ferguson starting the scoring after just five minutes, converting a pin-point pass from Jenny Burr.

Izzy Marshall then set up Lyndsey Bierton for Bluieharts’ second and then turned scorer after the break to convert some excellent work from Tia Peek.

Burr set up Ferguson for the Blueharts’ fourth goal to round off the scoring.

Blueharts even had the luxury of substituting goalkeeper Amelie Beaver and stoutly defended three short corners with Stevenage just scoring the once as a consolation.

To round off Stevenage’s miserable day at the hands of Blueharts sides, the Ladies 5s beat Stevenage 4s 4-0 – while the 7s beat Welwyn Garden City 4s 4-2.

The 4s were the only ladies side beaten on Saturday as they were pipped 3-2 by Harpenden 2s.

Back to the men’s sides – and after their 9-1 demolition of Letchworth last weekend, the 2s were again in great form as they put four past Luton Town without reply.

There was a Rickmansworth double for the 4s and 5s – the 4s beating Rickmansworth 1s 4-2, while the 5s beat Rickmansworth 2s 4-0.

The men’s 3s went down by the odd goal in five to Vauxhall 1s but the 6s were beaten 11-0 at Lucas Lane by a powerful Bengal Tigers side, a team who belong in a much higher league.