Wapping boosted their promotion hopes with 4-3 win over Blueharts in Premier Division A on Saturday.

The team travelled to Hertfordshire knowing it would be a tough game with six of their regulars missing against a perennial bogey side.

Wapping started at a fast tempo and early pressure led to a short corner, which was clinically converted high into the net by Felix Styles. Soon after, Blueharts restored parity with their own smartly-taken short corner finish.

The first half ended all-square, with both teams making unnecessary unforced errors and neither team taking the initiative.

Wapping were the brighter team in the second half and showed more composure in their play. The East London side took the lead from a fine finish by Matt Hyden from a wide angle after an incisive move.

However, Blueharts, showing the fighting spirit for which they are renowned, rallied with another equaliser from a penalty stroke conceded after aggressive pressure from the home side.

Wapping then decisively sealed control of the game, with captain Oliver Cooper coolly slotting in a penalty stroke after another Styles drag flick and Dominic Graham burst through the Blueharts defence to score on his reverse stick with a fine solo goal.

In the final 30 seconds, a lapse in concentration saw Blueharts pull a goal back but Wapping held on for the win.

Man-of-the-match Hyden said: “We’re relieved to win today because we didn’t feel we played anywhere near our best and Blueharts always cause us problems. We recognise we need to improve our concentration and make sure we execute the simple things well.”

The victory has taken the side up to third in the table and just three points off top spot.

A last-minute goal sent Wapping ladies to a 3-2 home defeat against Bromley and Beckenham.

After an unsettled first ten minutes, the home side started to find their rhythm and made a couple of good breaks into the Bromley defence, resulting in a short corner which was superbly flicked into the back of the net by Sarah Burke.

Wapping followed this up with more attacking breaks, culminating in an open play goal from Lucy Todd to make it 2-0 at half-time.

Bromley fought back in the second half, with some long balls into the circle, resulting in two deflected goals into the Wapping net.

Going down to ten players after a yellow card, Wapping continued to fight to the end but Bromley scored from a short corner at the final whistle to take home the three points.

Player of the match Todd said: “This was another disappointing game for us, going from 2-0 up at half-time to lose by a penalty corner after the final whistle. But it does show what we can do against a top team in our league.”