West Herts ladies’ Seconds have won the Five Counties Premier and promotion to the East League for the first time in the club’s history.

A 3-1 win over Saffron Walden was all it took for the Stags to ensure they could not be caught by those below them ahead of their final league game.

Herts controlled the match from the start and the pressure paid off when Evie Eyles found the back of the net with a well-placed shot.

Eyles soon made it two – rounding off a solo run from the halfway line to calmly slot past the keeper.

The home side’s dominance continued in the second half and there was some inevitability to the arrival of a third goal; Liz Harding tapping in at the back post.

A momentary lapse of concentration allowed Saffron Walden to register a late consolation goal but West Herts held firm.

The men’s Thirds sealed promotion to Division Two South in dramatic fashion, crushing Stevenage Firsts 8-1 to satisfy the seven-goal margin they had to win by.

With promotion rivals Shefford & Sandy having won 10-0 earlier in the day, the Stags knew only a seven-goal victory margin would suffice.

First-half goals from Bill Anderson and Matt Sears made it 2-1 and the task looked unachievable.

Club top-scorer Luke Frey got things going with an early second-half brace but the scoring rate slowed.

With 15 minutes remaining captain Rob Gabriel popped up to make it 5-1 and then Morné Hoffman struck a short corner for number six before Gabriel got his second of the contest.

Further chances were spurned until Gabriel netted the vital eighth and his 150th goal for the club with the last touch of the game.

The men’s Seconds lost a nine-goal thriller 5-4 at Potters Bar, whilst the Fourths eased to a 4-0 away win at Stevenage Seconds.

There was light at the end of the tunnel for the Fifths, who brushed aside Bedford Veterans 5-2. The Sixths won 2-0 at Stevenage Fourths.

In the East Premier there was a 2-1 defeat for the ladies against Bromley & Beckenham. The Thirds were also beaten, 2-1 at Saffron Walden Thirds.

The Thirds played out a 2-2 draw at Chiltern which did their promotion hopes no good, whilst the Fourths won 3-1 at Welwyn Garden City Seconds.

Promotion is still attainable for the Fifths, who made light work of Welwyn Garden City Fourths in a 4-1 thumping.