2023/24 Season - Week 9

Blueharts Ladies 3s consolidated their position at the top of East Division 3 South West with a comfortable 2-0 win at bottom side St Albans on Saturday.

A sweeping move between Izzy Rutter and Tamzin Wright ended with Josie Layton scoring the first for the 3s as they dominated from the off.

Blueharts remained disciplined in defence, with Scarlett Lait – making an appearance up from the 4s – enjoying a fine match and Cindy Dixon shepherding the side from the back.

The second goal which killed the game came from Rutter who got the better of a one-to-one with the St Albans keeper and with Lizzie Bayley’s work rate to the fore, the 3s eased home for their eighth win in nine matches this season.

The perfect preparation then for a top-of-the-table encounter with nearest rivals Bedford 4s this Saturday – where a win would take them five points clear.

Blueharts Men’s 2s are now seven points clear in East Division 2 after a thumping 7-0 win at Hertford.

A brilliant hat-trick from man-of-the-match and new central midfielder Tom Russell provided the centrepiece of their win – together with two goals apiece from Adam Wells and Jamie Williams.

The will to win of the side was epitomised by Bailey Farmer whose determination to help keep a clean sheet saw him run down six successive short corners.

Goals from James Sandford and Sam Rees were in vain for the Men’s 1s who went down 3-2 to Cambridge University.

Sandford had given Blueharts the lead but the students quickly learned their lesson and hit back with three goals.

Alex Ford kept the home side in it with a series of brilliant stops but despite a Rees penalty flick, the 1s couldn’t force an equaliser.

The Ladies 1s’ match at Harleston was cancelled because of a waterlogged pitch and the 2s were beaten 3-1 at Saffron Walden 1s, despite a goal from Kate Sherwood, set up by Ellie Johnson.

Nic Baxter wound the clock back a few decades when she became the 4s emergency goalkeeper against Saffron Walden 3s.

Baxter performed heroically in goal but was powerless to prevent a 6-1 defeat for her side.

Alice Winton provided some consolation with the 4s only goal of the game.

There was better news for the Men’s 4s however, where a debut goal from Ollie Wright helped them a 2-1 win over Bedford, with Daniel Harvey also scoring as the 4s move up to joint second in the table.

It was a family affair for the fast-improving Men’s 5s with Ben Hammond (2), brother Ashley and Ashley’s son Oscar all on target in the 5-0 win against Shefford and Sandy – Pete Mitchell scoring the other goal.

The win was also notable for a second successive clean sheet from goalkeeper and man-of-the-match Josh Partridge.

Another youngster, Ben Keegan was man-of-the-match for the Men’s 3s in their 3-3 draw against Potters Bar.

Brandon Mahrra gave the 3s an early lead from a short corner before a brilliant reverse stick hit from Chris Batchelor doubled the Blueharts lead.

However, Potters Bar came on strongly and turned the match around to lead 3-2.

It seemed the 3s were heading for an unlucky defeat only for Will Hammond to snatch an equaliser to clinch a hard-earned point.

The Ladies 5s battled hard against St Albans but went down 2-0, despite an outstanding performance from last-minute stand-in keeper Tia Peek.

Lydia Buckland, Megan Thomson-Wells and Lyla Thomson-Wells all performed with real promise on their debuts for the 5s.

Emily Bill scored twice in the first half and Katharine Carlyle once in the second period for the Ladies 6s in an excellent team performance, but they went down 6-3 against Saffron Walden 5s.

A Paul Krishman goal couldn’t prevent the Men’s 6s from a 5-1 defeat at Hertford, while the 7s were beaten by the odd goal in five at home to Shefford and Sandy.

But a Hannah Ross hat-trick and goals from Kirstie de Sousa and Susie Powell earned the Ladies 7s an emphatic 5-1 win against Welwyn Garden City.