Welwyn Garden City were back among the goals and back among the wins but there was still a sense of work to do despite the victory at Blueharts.

The 5-3 success at the Hitchin-based club was their sixth of the season in East League Division Two South West and their third on their travels.

But it needed a goal late on to finally put the basement side away and put them seventh in the standings.

Welwyn welcomed back Oli Rowe for the first time this season and after speaking in the pre-match build up about the importance of a fast start, they responded by taking the lead on seven minutes, great interplay between Nick Reilly and Nate Last doing the business.

They almost doubled the advantage moments later but after Bryn Evans had fed Dave Allmand Smith, the hot-shot forward was stopped by a good save.

It was only a temporary reprieve though for Blueharts as Welwyn did get the second goal after some neat play down the right was again converted by Last, Paul Marchant the man to deliver the ball this time.

And at this stage of the contest Welwyn were playing the ball around with ease and accuracy, leaving the hosts chasing shadows.

And the pressure didn't stop, allowing Allmand-Smith to get in on the act with a calm finish before a penalty corner was converted by Reilly before the break.

Blueharts had forced Dan Klinger into a couple of saves late on in the half but there was no indication that anything was about to change when the teams re-emerged for the second half.

But it did. Blueharts came out much more aggressively in the second half and it flipped the momentum on its head, putting all the pressure onto WGC.

Stuart Stephen was forced into making several interceptions while both Evans and Last had to track back in support of their defence.

Blueharts won several penalty corners, one of these smacking off the crossbar, and they began to catch out the Welwyn defenders, eventually leading to two quick-fire goals.

And still they continued to press with the visitors' outlet ball to Rowe and Mark Skilbeck snaffled up and stopped by a swarm of defenders.

Klinger was now by far the busier keeper but he couldn't keep Blueharts out forever and it was no surprise when the home team cut the lead to one with a third goal.

Pete Mullens had to be off his mark quickly to prevent an equaliser with five minutes to go, racing out to stop a penalty corner but just as it seemed Welwyn would implode, they burst up the other end and Allmand-Smith beat two defenders to finish well and give them breathing space for the final few minutes.

Welwyn host third-placed St Albans on Saturday.

The rest of the men's teams had positive results too. The seconds won 4-2 at home to Luton Town while there draws for the thirds and fourths, the former held 4-4 away to Stevenage.

The women's results weren't quite as good but there was only the one defeat, that for the fourths.

The firsts, seconds and thirds all drew, with the 1-1 draw for the twos maintaining their unbeaten record but leaving them two points adrift of Stevenage in Division Four South West.