The first half of the season has not been one of great joy for Welwyn Garden City Hockey Club's men - but they were feeling a little more festive as their final game of 2023 ended in a much-needed win. 

They were at home to Stevenage in East League Division Two South West and came away with a thrilling 4-3 victory.

It was their third success after 11 games of the campaign and moves them to the relative safety of ninth.

Both teams were keen to take the spoils and the game started in the fashion it would continue.

It took two minutes for the visitors to attack the Welwyn backline and after a couple of well worked plays, and some good saves by WGC keeper Dan Klinger, they managed to find a way through.

Welwyn steadied the ship though with defenders James Lutrario and Rob Samson keeping Stevenage at bay.

And when full-backs Will Reilly and Pete Mullens helped launch an attack up the field that resulted in a short corner, Reilly supplied the finishing touch to equalise.

Dave Allmand-Smith and Dan Hatt were denied multiple times by the experienced Stevenage keeper and the sides turned round level.

The second half also started quickly with the visitors once again scoring early thanks to another well-taken effort but, undeterred, Welwyn fought back again.

Dan White and Paul Marchant set up Allmand-Smith and although he was foiled, the resulting short corner was buried by Bryn Evans.

WGC pushed on and with 10 minutes to go Reilly and Hatt got the ball to the dangerous Allmand-Smith who reverse flicked the ball into the corner of the goal, giving Welwyn the lead for the first time.

Minutes later though their joy turned to despair as Stevenage equalised following a number of great defensive blocks by Mullens and Lutrario.

However, the happiness would return to Welwyn in the closing minutes and after a mazy run by Sansom won a short corner, Allmand-Smith slotted home the rebound after Evans' initial strike had been saved.

The thirds were the only other team to win in the club, beating Southgate Adelaide 4-2, but the ladies' first team did gain a point thanks to a 1-1 draw at home to Bishop's Stortford.

The final week before the winter break also had all the Potters Bar teams in action - and resulted in four wins out of five.

The only team that failed to get three points were the men's first team, who slipped back into the bottom three of Division One South following a 2-1 loss at Waltham Forest,

Hugh Kenney-Herbert got their only goal.

The seconds have a splendid 6-2 win at Vauxhall, with another four goals from leading scorer Warren Edmondson, as well as one each from George Fennell and George McCormick.

Result of the day belonged to the thirds who thumped West Herts 11-1.

Aryan Walla got four in this one and he was backed up by hat-tricks from Sam Penn and Nani Reddy and one from Tim Fretter.

The fourths beat WGC fourths at Dame Alice Owens with Andy Latham, Adam Frame and Adrian Clargo on target.

And the ladies enjoyed themselves too, despite the early rain, as they ran out 6-0 winners over Blueharts.

Their goals came from Chris Field (four) and Kate Fitton (two).

Both clubs return to action on January 13.