2023/24 Season - Week 3

Blueharts Mens 2s continued their perfect, free-scoring start to the season on Saturday with a 5-3 win at Stevenage.

As they did at Letchworth on the opening day of the league season, the Hitchin side were home and hosed inside the first half – scoring four without reply in a 20-minute spell.

Adam Wells scored two of them, with Ben Philipson and Chris Nichols adding the others.

To their credit, the home side rallied after the break but Blueharts always had enough in hand and secured the points with a well-worked move, finished off by youngster Jamie Williams.

Elsewhere on Saturday, there was a mixed bag of results for the other Blueharts sides – a last-minute goal from Helen Ferguson gave the Ladies 6s a fine 3-2 win over Bedford.

Ferguson had opened the scoring within the first five minutes, with Lindsey Brierton feeding Hannah Ross to make it 2-0.

The Blueharts’ resolute defence of goalkeeper Emma Sadler, Jules Purton, Liv Patching, Zanie Nolte and Millie Smith then kept Bedford at bay but the home side raised their game after the restart and hit back with two goals to level the score.

But with a draw seemingly inevitable, Ro Santana sent a pass to the back post for Ferguson to slot home for a dramatic winner.

It was also an encouraging day for the Men’s 3s with a 4-1 win against Harpenden 2s in a match which saw a man-of-the-match performance for debutant Noah Tingle.

Max Clarke set up Joe Dalrymple for the goal of the match but James Morris, Gillan Ide and Steve Turner were also on target for the Blues.

The men’s 6s bounced back from their heavy defeat by Bengal Tigers the previous Saturday with an excellent 5-1 win at Shefford and Sandy.

The home side opened the scoring early on but that merely was the prelude to some great work from a youthful 6s side – with standout performances from Henry Payne, Freddy Baxter, Rory Williams, Cam Hone, Jake Sudweeks and Jack Jones in goal.

With Mark Russell and Martin Sudweeks taking control of midfield, Blueharts equalised from a Paul Krishman penalty flick.

Krishman, Hone and Charlie Moore then started to create a number of chances and penalty corners, one of which was flicked in by Joel ide to make it 2-1.

John Russell then added a third just before half-time and Krishman was denied a fourth by the woodwork as Blueharts continued to press in the second half.

Shefford’s attempts to get back into the match were thwarted by a defence in which captain Gary Fung and Dave Moore held firm.

And goals from Gavin Bidgood and a second for John Russell sealed the deal for the 6s to earn their first points of the season.

Meanwhile, a goal from Scott Cromack and man-of-the match performance from promising youngster Ollie Wright earned the Men’s 4s a 1-0 win at Potters Bar 2s.

It wasn’t such a happy Saturday for the club’s 1s sides – the ladies travelled to Cambridge City, aiming to preserve their unbeaten start to the season.

Despite some brilliant goalkeeping from Grace Thomson, the 1s went down to a single scrappy goal and so look to bounce back against Broxbourne at home next Saturday.

And it was a day to forget for the men’s 1s who were beaten 7-2 at home by a clinical Saffron Walden side at Lucas Lane.

After going 4-0 down in the first half, Blueharts were given a glimmer of hope with goals either side of the break from Sam Rees and James Byford.

Chances to reduce their arrears to 4-3 came and went – but were taken at the other end as the visitors added three more before the close.

Despite a start that Usain Bolt would have been proud of, as Niamh Krishman and Milly Winton set up Emily Bill to score after just ten seconds, the Ladies 5s were beaten 2-1 by a strong Bedford outfit.

Conversely the Ladies 7s left it until the final minute to grab an equaliser against Bishop’s Stortford, thanks to good work from twins Megan and Lyla Thomson-Wells who supplied Imogen Ryden.

A Kate Sherwood goal wasn’t enough for the Ladies 2s who went down 2-1 to Bedford 3s –a penalty flick save from goalkeeper Lara Wildon had kept her side in with a shout however, while there were impressive displays from Emily Frenay and Annie Nicholls.

The Ladies 3s performed well but went down to a single goal at Shefford and Sandy, despite fine performances from Nicky Turnbull and goalkeeper Cindy Dixon.

Meanwhile the men’s 5s were beaten late on 4-3 by Stevenage 2s, Two goals from Ben Hammond and one from younger brother Ashley gave Blueharts the prospect of a point - only to be undone by a late Stevenage winner.