Welwyn Garden City's run of defeats stretched to three but there were at least signs of better days ahead in the loss to high-flying Harpenden.

The Hertfordshire Sports Village-based hockey club lost 2-1 in Division Two South West, leaving Harps in third and dropping Welwyn down to eighth.

The visitors started well enough but failed to take their chances and that looked to have returned to haunt them when the hosts took the lead.

A fine tackle from Pete Mullens started a break which ended with a long corner after good work from Nick Reilly and Dave Allmand-Smith.

Mark Skilbeck took it quickly to find Reilly on the overlap and his pass picked out a fine run by Nate Last for the finish.

By half-time though Harpenden were in front, Dan Klinger in the WGC goal having no chance with either, 

Welwyn had several breakaway opportunities which couldn't penetrate the away defence and when they did get on the front foot, Callum Burr caused plenty of problems.

Eventually though they ran out of gas and it needed strong defence from James Lutario and Rob Sansom to negate Harpenden's forwards.

One last foray forward from WGC ended with Mark Skilbeck's may run and cross fail to find a team-mate.