Welwyn Garden City saw their improved form of late ended at St Albans - but not without a formidable effort from the men in blue.

They lost 2-1 in the East Hockey League Division Two South West match, played on an icy Oaklands College pitch.

That had led to slight delay until both sides agreed to give it a go, although the opening 20 minutes was a slippery affair until the temperatures rose high enough.

Welwyn actually coped with the conditions better and cut through the St Albans midfield at regular intervals.

Dan Hatt was causing plenty of problems with some exquisite skill while Bryn Evans was distributing the ball effectively, despite being deployed in defence due to player absences.

They were deserving of still be level at half-time and they took the lead in the second half when Teddy May scored on his debut, all after Hatt and Paul Marchant had seen efforts saved.

Two quick-fire goals gave St Albans the lead though and Welwyn's hopes of snatching a point were hit when Nate Last was sent off for 10 minutes after a trip and then Hatt was ushered into the sin-bin for dissent.

Fine defending kept the home side at bay and WGC were unlucky not to grab a draw when Hatt saw the keeper make a fine save.

They play Hertford on Saturday.

The ladies' first team also lost 2-1, beaten by Hemel & Berkhamsted at home and the only winners on the day were the men's thirds who won 5-2 at West Herts.

The women's fourths did manage a 2-2 draw at Chiltern though.

A frozen pitch did put pay to the Potters Bar men's fourth team game at Broxbourne but others from the club did play.

The women's first team drew 2-2 against Saffron Walden, Nikki Hughes and Lee Jane Yates the scorers, and it was the same score for their male equivalents, Simon Tenwick and Miles Tomkins on target at home to Havering.

Result and performance of the day came from the thirds who recovered from 3-0 down at half-time at Blueharts to win 7-3.

James Atkinson, Simon Kelly and Aryan Walia all got two in the second-half bonanza with the other scored by Sam Penn.

The seconds lost 3-1 at Southgate Adelaide though, Warren Edmondson with the consolation.