St Albans Hockey Club’s men may still be going all out for the East League Premier Division title but they already have one eye on next season and a tilt at the national leagues.

Herts Advertiser: Jeff Parker defends in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOOJeff Parker defends in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Archant)

A restructure of the top divisions in England mean that instead of just the champions going up, four will take their places in the second tier of hockey in England.

Herts Advertiser: Dillet Gilkes runs forward in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOODillet Gilkes runs forward in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Archant)

Not that the Tangerines are leaving anything to chance as a comprehensive 6-2 win over Saffron Walden made it six out of six and strengthened their position on the top of the pile.

Herts Advertiser: Jeff Parker in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOOJeff Parker in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Archant)

But skipper Matt Davey knows that this is just a stepping stone on a far-greater journey for the club.

Herts Advertiser: Matt Davey lines up a shot in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOOMatt Davey lines up a shot in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Archant)

He said: “Since I joined it’s been our mission to get back up as soon as possible but with the quality in this league, compared to other regions, it is really difficult to get out.

Herts Advertiser: Jeff Parker looks for a pass in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOOJeff Parker looks for a pass in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Archant)

“This year there will be four going up as part of a restructure so we should be ok.

Herts Advertiser: Tariq Marcano on the attack in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOOTariq Marcano on the attack in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Archant)

“But it’s more about building up as a team and being ready for national league hockey at the end of the season.

Herts Advertiser: Saffron Walden dribble out of defence in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOOSaffron Walden dribble out of defence in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Archant)

“It’s not just about playing for the win and the championship, although that’s what we want, it’s also about playing for next year.”

Herts Advertiser: Ian Scanlon looks to attack the box in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOOIan Scanlon looks to attack the box in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Archant)

All that said though the side have pushed all aside so far this year and despite visitors Walden taking an 11th-minute lead, there was only one side going to win the Oaklands College showdown.

Herts Advertiser: Matt Davey shoots from a short corner in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOOMatt Davey shoots from a short corner in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Archant)

Davey said: “We can’t have asked for a better start, to have won them all and averaged over six a game.

Herts Advertiser: Mark Lowden plays a pass in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOOMark Lowden plays a pass in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Archant)

“In previous seasons we’ve concentrated on goalscoring but that’s now coming through.

Herts Advertiser: Matt Davey shoots from a short corner in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOOMatt Davey shoots from a short corner in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Archant)

“We’ve always been good defensively but its good to see we’re starting to actually put some of the chances away, even if it’s at the cost of letting a few more in than we usually do.

Herts Advertiser: Tariq Marcano on the ball in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOOTariq Marcano on the ball in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Archant)

“But we can fix that.

Herts Advertiser: Saffron Walden on the attack in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOOSaffron Walden on the attack in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Archant)

“We’ve just added one or two new threats up front and have now got some really quick guys up front.

Herts Advertiser: Luke Kennedy scores for St Albans in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOOLuke Kennedy scores for St Albans in the match between St Albans and Saffron Walden men's first teams. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Archant)

“Before that we didn’t score too many goals in open-play and were having to wait on corners but now we’ve managed to open it up and take more chances.”

Pete Cornell bagged two in the win while Ian Scanlon, Hugo Christie, Tariq Marcano and Luke Kennedy all chipped in with one.