Old Loughtonians scored a crucial away victory when they overcame third placed Wimbledon.

Loughts needed to win the match in order to stay in touch with the top four and they made a bright start with some quick movement.

Despite their pressure though, it was Wimbledon who took the lead 13 minutes in thanks to a fine solo effort from Great Britain international Ben Hawes.

However, the visitors’ pressure was rewarded five minutes later when they levelled – Paul Nicholls getting himself on to a loose ball to beat the keeper with a low strike.

The second period started as the first had finished with Loughts still slightly on top but they were struggling to find the back of the net.

Their determined pressure was eventually rewarded when with nine minutes left on the clock, Harry Martin out them in front.

Some good build up play saw Martin played in and he calmly pushed the ball beyond the keeper in the bottom left corner.

Wimbledon proceeded to throw everything at Loughts in an effort to save the match and with just 40 seconds left on the clock, they were rewarded with a penalty corner.

Stuart Hendy saved the initial shot but Ali Bray was forced to dive to prevent the ball going over the line.

The resulting slap-hit hit a defender for another short-corner after the siren.

With all of the home side surrounding the circle, there was one last chance for an equaliser but the drag flick was saved by Hendy as Loughts held on for the win.

Loughts will now play their first home game of the season when they welcome ninth placed Harleston Magpies to Chigwell School on Saturday.

Old Loughtonians Ladies suffered a disappointing day as they lost out 1-0 at Harleston Magpies in a tight affair.

It was a hard-working display from Loughts as they put the home side under pressure from the off – exploiting the wings when Jen Johnson, Emily Wills and Georgie Edwards won the ball to set up attacks through Jess Bryan, Aimee Gosling and Adele Sammons.

The visitors thought their efforts had been rewarded in the first half when Emily Defroand’s short-corner strike went just too high, while Anna Coppel and Ele Powell both shot narrowly wide.

At the back, the defence was handling everything thrown at them but when Jess Gordon was tested, she was always up to the challenge.

Loughts came out brightly again after the restart but were behind three minutes in when a miss-hit short-corner bobbled its way through the defence and through the pads of the unsighted Gordon.

The goal didn’t affect Loughts as they went in search of the equaliser but despite a series of attacks, it was not forthcoming as the visitors fell to defeat.

Gosling has a fantastic game but Player of the Match was awarded to Defroand.