Old Loughtonians women returned to Vitality Conference East action with victory in a rearranged game away at Hampstead & Westminster 2s.

Loughts were looking to extend their unbeaten run to five games and defended a couple of early Hampstead penalty corners resolutely with Phoebe Menear in goal making a fine stick save from a deflected effort.

With 15 minutes gone Loughts won a penalty corner of their own and a well rehearsed routine saw Adele Sammons inject to Maddy Newlyn at the top of the D, with her return pass swept home beautifully by Sammons.

Loughts held firm in the second quarter with superb defensive shape from the front which frustrated Hampstead's attempts to penetrate the D.

But 15 minutes into the second half Loughts were reduced to 10 players for 10 minutes and Hampstead withdrew their keeper to create an 11v-9 outfield match-up.

This just inspired Loughts to up their workrate further to defend their precious lead, with Menear making a superb save from another penalty corner to deflect a fierce drive away with her outstretched pad.

As the game entered the final quarter Loughts almost wrapped up the game as Newlyn and Chantelle Fernandes drew excellent saves from Hampstead keeper Brooke Butler.

The last few minutes saw Loughts defend their D with outstanding resilience as they closed the game out to win 1-0 and secure the three points.

Four wins in the last five games has propelled Loughts to fourth in the table with a double header to come next weekend as Ipswich visit Luxborough Lane on Saturday and Loughts travel to Teddington in another rearranged fixture on Sunday.

The W2s won 2-1 at Havering 1s with Chloe Stack scoring twice after the hosts had taken the lead.

But the W3s lost 1-0 against Chelmsford 3s, the W4s lost 3-2 against Upminster 4s and the W5s lost 1-0 at Brentwood 3s but remain second in the table.

After winning 3-2 against leaders Chelmsford 1s, the M2s faced another stiff test at second-placed Letchworth 1s in the East Premier.

But a gutsy display earned them a 4-3 win with goals from Andy McGregor, Gus Peddy, Matt Lewis and Sam Bond.

The M3s lost 5-2 to Upminster 1s but the M4s continued their resurgence with a 1-0 win against Upminster 3s, their fourth win in five, as Dexter Jermyn scored the only goal on 20 minutes.

The M5s Willows lost 9-0 at leaders Brentwood 3s and the M6s Willows Woodsmen lost 5-2 at Brentwood 4s.

But Peter Clark scored twice as the M7s Willows Rangers won 3-1 in their derby against Crostyx 4s, with Punit Vadgama scoring the third, and the M8s Willows Axemen played their best hockey of the season so far and won 5-0 at Upminster 6s.

The M1s are back in action this weekend when they host Brighton & Hove on Sunday (1pm) as they continue their push for promotion into the National Premier.

Sunday was a big day in the minis calendar with eight teams playing in Essex and East tournaments. 

The U12 boys went to Hertford for the East Junior Tier 1 competition, with a second U12 squad at Bishop's Stortford in the Essex League where they were joined by one of the U10 boys' squads. 

The other U10s were at Havering in the Essex South Festival, along with the U10 and U12 girls. 

The other U10 and U12 girls played in the Essex League at Braintree, with all grateful for the help of Jane Blake and her team of volunteer coaches and managers.