2024/25 Season - Week 1

Blueharts Ladies 1s underlined their determination to make it back into the East Premier Division with an emphatic 4-0 win over Upminster 2s at Lucas Lane on Saturday.

A dominant first match in East Division One South brought first-half goals from Liv Byford, Isla Watts and Ellie Johnson – while Lucy Nissen added the fourth just before the final whistle.

The scoreline means Blueharts are top of the embryonic table with a trip to local rivals Letchworth ahead this coming Saturday.

The Men’s 1s fielded a depleted, injury-hit side against newly-promoted Pelicans and came away from the long trip to King’s Lynn with a 2-0 defeat.

Blueharts did at least create a number of chances, especially after the break but couldn’t convert them into goals.

A late equaliser from Rachel Campbell earned the Ladies 2s a point in a battling 2-2 draw against Harpenden who boasted an unbeaten record against the 2s in previous seasons.

Harpenden took an early lead but the Blues hit back just before half-time, as Emily Frenay’s hit into the D was turned in by Nicarra Berry.

Things looked bleak for Blueharts as Harpenden regained the lead with ten minutes remaining only for a brilliant cross from Kiki Arellano to be converted by Campbell.

It also finished 2-2 as the new-look Men’s 2s came from behind against their Harpenden opponents.

The visitors took a first-half lead but a composed finish from Kyle Watson pulled the 2s level.

Blueharts gradually began to gain the ascendency but then left a Harpenden forward completely unmarked upfield which resulted in them restoring their advantage.

However the 2s dug deep and were rewarded with debutant Matt Scott scoring from a short corner routine.

Harpenden forced a series of short corners on the final whistle but some stellar defending from the whole side kept them at bay and earned a deserved point.

Amy Williams started the season with a bang for the Ladies 3s with a hat-trick as Stevenage were beaten 3-0.

There was also a treble for Talin Keoshgerian as the Ladies 5s (pictured) thumped Broxbourne 4s 7-0.

Elsie Burston added two, with Rocio Santana and a rare strike from centre-back Olivia Patching rounding off the scoring in a game where the player-of-the-match honours went to Megan Thomson-Wells.

Another hat-trick hero was debutant Frederick Baxter whose three goals came in the Men’s 7s’ 8-2 thrashing of Shefford and Sandy 3s.

George Raynor scored twice on his first appearance for the side with Bobby Bridges also scoring twice and Chris Job adding the other in a brilliant team performance.

There were plenty of goals in the 4s matches – the men’s side defeated Harpenden 2s 4-2 but the ladies’ team let slip a 3-1 lead and were beaten 4-3 by Broxbourne.

The 4s were in fine form in the first half as Lyla Thomson-Wells opened the scoring after receiving the ball on the edge of the D before reversing it into the bottom corner.

Some neat passing then ended with Chloe Bugler adding a second for the Blues but a deflected strike saw Broxbourne pull one back.

A second Bugler goal gave the 4s a 3-1 lead at half-time – however it was a different second-half story as Broxbourne came roaring back with three goals to inflict an opening-day defeat on Blueharts.

The Men’s 5s went down 5-2 at a strong Bishops Stortford despite goals from Cam Hone and Rob Loweth but a brilliant Hannah Ross double and one from Helen Ferguson gave the Ladies 6s a comfortable 3-0 win against Shefford and Sandy.

It was a fine start to the season for the Men’s 6s as they ran out 6-3 winners over Bishops Stortford 5s - the benefit of having an in-depth squad with five substitutes and plenty of youth helped them to come back from 2-1 down early on.

The win came courtesy of doubles from Paul Krishman and Simon Little plus goals from Charlie Moore and John Russell.

Blueharts Ladies 7s were also in prolific form with an 8-0 win over Stevenage 5s.

Meanwhile, the first-ever match for the Men’s 8s ended in a creditable goalless draw at Rickmansworth – with nine Blueharts juniors making their senior debuts.

Max McIntyre-Brown – one of the young cohort – shone in central midfield as Blueharts’ fledgling side dominated against their vastly more experienced opponents.