West Herts Hockey Club men's side missed their points target for the first half of the season after slipping to a 3-0 defeat Bromley & Beckenham on Sunday.

The Stags will now head into the Christmas break off the back of a defeat which leaves them sixth in the NOW: Pensions National League Conference East.

Bromley opened the scoring with a shot which deflected off the foot of a West Herts player before a second followed from a short corner prior to the break.

An improved second-half display failed to provide a route back into the game though, and a third goal on the counter-attack put paid to any ideas of a comeback.

Dan Webster was given a second yellow card and a technical red for an innocuous challenge before the close, compounding the Stags’ woes.

The ladies lost ground on league-leaders Cambridge City after falling to a 5-3 defeat away from home. Becky Perry scored from a penalty corner after just three minutes but the home side quickly levelled following a neat interchange of play.

Shortly after losing Anna Coppel to a hand injury, West Herts retook the lead when Jen Black netted for the visitors.

Two early goals at the beginning of the second period saw Cambridge assume control of the contest and although Smith got one back, the home side retaliated with a fifth.