The winter break came early for Potters Bar Hockey Club as their men's first team saw their game away to Blueharts beaten by the snow and ice.

They head into the Christmas break ninth in East League Division One South and their next game will be on January 7 when they host league leaders Bishop's Stortford.

The game in Hitchin would have been the return game from seven days earlier when Blueharts left Dame Alice Owens with a 3-2 win.

Frost was the main issue prior to the start but there was surprise when the game went ahead.

The first half didn't produce any goals but it wasn't for the want of trying, as the surface didn't prove to be a problem.

Ed Seaman had an effort deflected past a post while Ben White was denied by the visiting keeper.

The best move of the half saw brothers James and George McCormick set-up Zahid Khan but he was narrowly off target with Mark Turpin lurking unmarked at the back post.

Blueharts meanwhile had a number of short corners in the early going which were dealt with by goalkeeper Danny Paterson while another shot pinged off the metalwork and bounced over the top.

The away team had their range-finder better tuned on 42 minutes when they took the lead and it could have been two had it not been for Paterson's impressive double save.

And a minute later Bar were level, Khan with the key pass inside the D that was put away by Miles Tomkins.

The game was now much more open with lots of chances at both ends.

Paterson was again called into action on 49 minutes to make a save from close range and then Bar created two good opportunities that they failed to take advantage of.

The first saw a fine move involving James Brooking and Khan but Tomkins' shoe was blocked and then White's effort from the resultant corner was saved.

Minutes later a run from Turpin led to Khan putting the ball into the middle.

It was turned in but rightly ruled out for an infringement.

Blueharts retook the lead on 56 minutes, a short corner neatly finished off despite a valiant attempt at a goal-line clearance.

But once again Bar hit back immediately, scoring with a short corner of their own two minutes later as Turpin turned in White's pass.

Both teams continued to press. Tomkins was just wide for Potters Bar while Blueharts were denied by a goal-live save from Hugh Kenney-Herbert.

What turned out to be the winner came on 64 minutes when a lofted ball into the D was well finished from close range.

Bar went all out to secure the equaliser but were unable to get the goal their efforts probably warranted.

They did come very close on 67 minutes with Khan again the provider.

However, Turpin saw his shot saved and Tomkins was unable to guide the ball home from the rebound under pressure from a defender.