EHL Premier A Blueharts 1 St Albans 6 St Albans First team confirmed their status as East Premier A champions over the weekend after beating both local rivals Blueharts and second placed Cambridge University. Needing four points from the weekend s two gam

EHL Premier A

Blueharts 1 St Albans 6

St Albans First team confirmed their status as East Premier A champions over the weekend after beating both local rivals Blueharts and second placed Cambridge University.

Needing four points from the weekend's two games to win the league and seal promotion to the National League, St Albans put in a much improved display in a local derby match against Blueharts, running out 6-1 winners.

An excellent first half attacking performance saw the Saints go into the half time break four goals to nil up, with Stephen Friend (two), Alan Miller and Dave Williams among the goals.

Although the second half was much closer, the Tangerines added two more goals through Rob Brown and Williams, and a late consolation from the home side could not detract from an excellent display from St Albans.

On Sunday St Albans travelled to Cambridge University, the only side to take points from them this season, looking for a solitary point to take the league title.

For Cambridge University, anything other than three points would guarantee league victory for their nervous and clearly apprehensive guests.

Steven Friend had his short corner drag flick saved by the Cambridge University goalkeeper, only for it to fall kindly for Mark Lowden who swept the ball into an empty net.

The second half continued in similar fashion with both sides creating half chances with neither team dominating possession nor more importantly the score line.

The pivotal moment of the game came when player-coach Glenn Webster played a through ball to striker Steve Hurworth.

Hurworth collected the ball 30 yards away from the goal and with no one around him strode into the D and finished with aplomb into the bottom corner of the goal.

Cambridge converted a late penalty corner but it was little more than a consolation.

Captain Paul Cooper said after the game: "I'm so pleased for the team.

"The management and players have put so much effort into training and match days and we thoroughly deserve to be playing in the National League next year.