Hockey: Stevenage start new season with couple of wins

The firsts got their Division Two South West campaign off and running with a 2-0 win at Hertford.

A good start brought the opening goal, a fine passing move involving Sophie Cheung and Liz Phoenix and finished off by Nikki Greaves.

They had to wait until the second half before they doubled their lead, although before that keeper Lisa Johnson and Katie Lambton had done superbly to preserve the clean sheet.

A long corner brought the cushion, Lara Gavillet and Stephanie Oliver working the build up for Liz Oliver to slot home.

The seconds then made it two from two with a 4-0 win at home to Welwyn Garden City in Division Three.

The first goal came midway through the first half, new signing Bec McGrillis with it, and another new addition, Alfie Gunther, made it 2-0.

Chloe Jones and Claire Weston wrapped things up.

The thirds and fifths both lost to Blueharts, the threes going down 3-0 and the fives 8-0, while the fourths were beaten 1-0 at home to Harpenden.

The men's section saw all four teams lose.

The firsts were beaten 3-2 at home to Broxbourne in Division Two, Aiden Parker among the goals, while the seconds lost 4-2 at Luton Town, John Mould scoring both for Stevenage.

The thirds had Ian Jackson on target in a 3-1 loss at Harpenden while the fourths were beaten 5-2 at Saffron Walden.

Harp Mann had briefly put them ahead but after trailing 2-1 at half-time, Ally Aubusson equalised early in the second period.

That, though, was as good as it got.

The ladies' fifth team at Blueharts Hockey Club. Picture: BLUEHARTS HC (Image: Blueharts Hockey Club)

The ladies' first team at Blueharts underlined their determination to make it back into the East League Premier Division with an emphatic 4-0 win over Upminster at Lucas Lane.

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

The men’s first team 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' twos a point in a 2-2 draw against Harpenden, Niccara Berry scoring Blueharts’ other goal.

It also finished 2-2 as the men’s seconds came from behind against their Harpenden opponents, Kyle Watson and Matt Scott on target.

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

There was also a treble for Talin Keoshgerian as the ladies' fifths thumped Broxbourne 7-0.

Elsie Burston added two with one each for Rocio Santana and Olivia Patching.

Another hat-trick hero was debutant Frederick Baxter whose three goals came in the men’s seventh team's 8-2 thrashing of Shefford & Sandy.

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

There were plenty of goals in the fourths matches.

The men defeated Harpenden 4-2 but the ladies let a 3-1 lead slip and were beaten 4-3 by Broxbourne, despite two goals for Chloe Bugler and one from Lyla Thomson-Wells.

The men’s fifths went down 5-2 at Bishops Stortford despite goals from Cam Hone and Rob Loweth but a Hannah Ross double and one from Helen Ferguson gave the ladies sixths a comfortable 3-0 win against Shefford &Sandy.

It was a fine start to the season for the men’s sixths as they ran out 6-3 winners over Bishop's Stortford thanks to doubles from Paul Krishman and Simon Little plus goals from Charlie Moore and John Russell.

The ladies' sevenths were also in prolific form with an 8-0 win over Stevenage fifths.

Meanwhile, the first-ever match for the men’s eights ended in a creditable 0-0 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.