Both of West Herts first XIs continued their unbeaten starts to the season on Saturday.

The men won 4-3 away at Hitchin against Blueharts, with a focused performance necessary to overcome what was potentially a banana skin.

The Stags started well and, after a string of penalty corners, Aaron Mitchell made the breakthrough.

The goal appeared to spark the home side into life though, as they capitalised on sloppy play by West Herts to reach the interval with a 2-1 lead.

A scrappy final 20 minutes saw both sides suffering temporary suspensions for minor offences, but West Herts eventually asserted their dominance adding two decisive goals to their tally, courtesy of Stuart Day and Greg Jackson.

The ladies Firsts travelled to Ipswich Seconds, coming away with what was a comprehensive 4-1 victory given that both teams were level on points at the top of the table before the game.

The visitors were 1-0 up within five minutes as Jenny Black tapped in Becky Perry’s cross. This was followed by a smart finish by Perry to double the lead.

Harriet Preest snatched a fortuitous third before half-time as the ball was parried in her direction from the Ipswich keeper.

A resilient Herts scored a fourth to kill the game off with Black finishing the best of the day’s goals.

Both men’s and ladies second teams got their first points of the season, with the men beating Ely City 1-0, and the ladies seeing off Saffron Walden with a 2-0 win.

The men’s side were desperate to get their season moving in the right direction but they ultimately had to cling on to their slender advantage after Pete Corbridge scored inside ten minutes.

The ladies Seconds took on an unbeaten Saffron Walden Seconds and produced their best performance of the season so far.

After a goalless first half, the Stags applied more pressure in the second period and the deadlock was soon broken with a goal from Jo Lee.

Tanita Montgomery then added the second to complete the win.

The men’s Thirds got back to winning ways with a 2-1 triumph over Shefford and Sandy Firsts in a feisty encounter at the New Field.

Stags did just enough to turn out winners with goals from Luke Frey and Morné Hoffman.

The ladies Thirds lost out by the odd goal in seven at Saffron Walden in a game which ebbed and flowed throughout, leaving Herts the wrong side of a 4-3 score line.

The men’s Fourths lost 3-0 to Luton Town Seconds, with all the goals coming in the first half.

Ladies Fourths won 4-1 away at Stevenage with goal-machine Rachel Aldridge netting three of them to cap a fine performance.

The men’s fifth XI are now the only club side without a win, losing 3-1 to Harpenden Fourths.

The ladies Fifths drew 2-2 with Welwyn Garden City IV in a game where they came from behind twice to earn a share of the points. Ellie Kendal and Hope Baker were the Herts scorers.

The men’s sixth XI produced a spirited comeback away to Broxbourne IV but ran out of time to find an equaliser, losing 4-3.

The men’s seventh team routed lowly Stevenage VI 6-1 with goals from Joe Higgins (3), Kim Waddup, Waqar Rashid and Bob Collins to take them to the top of Division Nine South West.