Old Loughtonians women secured promotion back to the National League with victory over Letchworth in front of a large Club Day crowd at Luxborough Lane.

Knowing that only victory would secure the East League Premier Division title they started tentatively, but any initial nerves were settled after only 11 minutes as the opened the scoring.

Stevie Southall picked up the ball on the left hand side of the pitch and drove forward from her own half, evading challenge after challenge from Letchworth’s defensive unit to reach the D and beat the keeper at the near post for a remarkable solo effort.

Loughts created further promising opportunities with driving runs by Tash Patient and Em Davies but could not extend their lead before the break.

But two minutes after the restart they doubled their advantage as player of the season Adele Sammons broke into the D and her thunderous cross-shot was expertly deflected home by Emily Holmes.

With 10 minutes remaining season top scorer Holmes made it 3-0 with another deflection, this time from Katie Gleeson’s raking cross, and the final whistle was greeted with delight in the stands and emotion on the pitch as Loughts celebrated their return to the National League after a nine-year absence.

A spokesperson said: "The success of this outstanding group of individuals has been based on an incredible team ethic which has carried the side to the title with 19 wins and 14 clean sheets.

"Special mention to head coach Miranda Baldwin in her last game in the role after brilliantly plotting the team’s successful return over the last three seasons."

The W2s lost 1-0 at Ipswich & East Suffolk but the W3s had a 4-1 win against Chelmsford 4s to go top of Division 3SE with two matches left.

The W4s lost 3-1 to Witham 2s as Alison Harrold netted, while the W5s won 2-1 at Maldon 3s with a brace from Lara Williams.

The men also had a good day and, buoyed by a crowd celebrating the women's promotion, they began strongly against Oxford Hawks and led after just two minutes with a goal from Andy McGregor.

Will Godfrey slammed in from a penalty corner on 10 minutes to make it 2-0, but Hawks hit back before Mark Loughrey made it 3-1 just before half time with a well placed penalty corner strike.

Hawks, needing a win to avoid relegation, threw everything at Loughts - who had two players sin binned - and moved 4-3 up before the hosts showed their class and scored three times in eight minutes to run out 6-4 winners.

Andy McGregor brought Loughts level and three minutes later Euan Gilmour put them back in front from a well worked short corner routine.

The best was left to last when Ed Fleet slapped a long pass to Harvey Edwards who controlled the ball and swept it to Tom Watson to put the finishing touches on a fine team goal to round off an impressive display against a valiant Hawks side who had won 5-0 the week before.

Loughts end the season at Sevenoaks on Sunday.

The M2s came out on top at East League Premier rivals Saffron Walden after a fine display to remain third.

Archie Crowley opened the scoring after only two minutes and Sam Lowe added a second soon after, with Toby Gayler making it 3-0 at half-time.

The hosts replied after the restart, but Will Hopkins made it 4-1 and Ollie Davies struck after a second from Walden, who grabbed a late consolation.

The M3s beat second-placed Upminster 3-1 to maintain their hopes of avoiding relegation from Division One South, with two games left, but the M4s lost 4-1 at Basildon.

The M5s Willows match was cancelled but the M6s Willows Woodsmen won 5-4 at home against Maldon 2s and the M7s Willows Rangers drew 2-2 at Upminster 5s ahead of the season finale this weekend.