Crostyx ladies came from two goals down at half-time to beat Hertford 3-2 at home on Saturday in East Women’s Hockey League Division C.

Hertford took the lead in the first half after a ball into the D cannoned fortuitously in off the post and the visitors doubled their advantage as a cross deflected off Ciara Newell and into the net for an own goal.

Crostyx started afresh in the second period and after a few waves of attacks, good work between Newell and Sarah Belsham teed up Sophie Abrahamovitch to sweep the ball past the stranded Hertford keeper.

Spurred on, a number of short corner routines tested the Hertford keeper and Carrie Curtis came close to scoring as she deflected a shot from Newell into the goal but with her foot.

Crostyx’s persistence finally paid off as a clearance from Donna Blockley found Newell, who slid the ball to Curtis to neatly wrong foot her marker and weave the ball into the goal to make it 2-2.

With the game firmly in the balance, it was Crostyx who looked the more likely winners and so it proved.

Newell, perhaps eager to atone for her previous mistake, picked up the ball and after a mazy run, she found space to unleash a clean shot and grab a dramatic late winner.

Crostyx ladies play Potters Bar at home on Saturday.

The Ladies Seconds were less successful, losing 2-0 at home to Basildon.

Crostyx men suffered a humbling 6-1 defeat at home to City of Peterborough on Saturday.

The heavy loss means Crostyx remain rooted to the bottom of the East Men’s Hockey League Premier B table with no points from their first four games.

It didn’t get any better for the men’s Seconds, who lost by the same scoreline to Wapping Thirds.

Crostyx planned to crowd the middle of pitch to protect their own D and the strategy worked well early on with Dave Farthing and Simon Gilbert working tirelessly in midfield.

Dominating possession however, Wapping eventually managed to beat the excellent Chris Tilley through Guy Peddy.

Crostyx were not disheartened however and managed to work their first short corner which was duly despatched by a powerful strike at the top of the D by skipper Paul Murphy.

The half-time whistle blew at 2-1 but second-half fatigue began to show early in the second period, and despite a Wapping player being sent off, the Crostyx players struggled to contain their opponents.

Young Richard Amos battled hard in midfield in a rough and tumble encounter but couldn’t prevent Crostyx conceding four in the second period.