An injury-hit West Herts men’s first team came up just short in their National East Conference clash with Oxted.

The two sides are evenly placed in the league table and there was little to separate them as the hosts claimed a 5-3 win.

Stags started the match well and were ahead early on when Dan Webster converted from a second minute penalty corner.

Herts had a host of chances to increase their lead but failed to capitalise and were pegged back by Robert Schenk’s goal before half-time.

Webster restored the lead on 46 minutes, but a further goal from Schenk added to Tom Blythe’s effort to turn the game in Oxted’s favour.

Herts hit back as Webster completed his hat-trick, before Oxted sealed the win through William Butler-Denby and Schenk’s third.

It was an equally disappointing weekend for Herts’ ladies firsts as they lost 2-1 against Chelmsford in the Investec Ladies East Conference.

A win would have boosted Herts’ survival hopes, but they were unable to match their opponents who took a 2-0 lead through Kate Robinson and Collette Ager.

Herts grabbed a late goal thanks to Miranda Hall but it proved to be little more than a consolation strike.

Elsewhere, the men’s seconds claimed a win and draw in their East Premier B double header.

Goals from Harry Benjamin, Luke Frey and George Thomas added to an own goal to give them a 4-2 win over Old Southendian on Saturday.

Benjamin was on target two more times to earn a 2-2 draw against Ipswich & East Suffolk on Sunday.

Rob Gabriel’s hat-trick led the way for the thirds as they hammered Chelmsford seconds 5-0 in the East Division Two South.

Morne Hoffman and Simon Pearce added the other goals for Herts in a comprehensive victory.

The sixths made a return to winning ways as they eased to a 2-0 victory over Hertford thanks to goals from prolific duo Dane Weimar and Hayden Langford.

The club added to their haul of victories in the East Division Nine South West as the sevenths beat Welwyn Garden City fourths 3-1.

Returning to the Ladies game, the seconds were narrowly beaten by Old Loughtonians as they lost 1-0 in the East Division Two South West.