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

The result was much needed after last week’s loss to 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' first team 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, two goals from Ellie Johnson and one each for Jules Rees and Chloe Leutchford earned the seconds a 4-3 win against Stevenage firsts.

Holly Manning (two) and Lucy Harvey got the Stevenage goals.

There was another Blueharts win over Stevenage for the thirds as they beat Stevenage seconds 4-1 with two goals from Josie Layton and one each from Izzy Rutter and Tamzin Wright.

And the sixths beat Stevenage fifths 4-1 thanks to a Helen Ferguson double and goals from Lyndsey Bierton and Isabelle Marshall.

Stevenage's men lost 6-4 at Shefford & Sandy but the seconds drew 4-4 with the same club, their second tie of the season.

Harry Wheeler, John Mould, Nick Umney and Kieren Nowopolski got the goals.

The thirds beat Southgate Adelaide 3-2 while the fourths lost 3-2 in a friendly with Hertford, Alastair Aubusson getting both goals.