Welwyn Garden City brought the first half of the East Hockey League season to a close with a thumping victory at home to Broxbourne.

The 5-1 win made it just four wins from the 11 matches but it leaves them seventh in the standings and safe in the knowledge that none of the seven losses have been by more than two goals.

This week's offering came as a surprise, with the chilly conditions expected to cause a postponement, but despite the heavy frost, WGC were able to field a squad of 13 for the first time this season.

Welwyn started by putting pressure on the opposition defence high up the pitch with Nate Last and Dave Allmand-Smith closing down the space.

Mark Skilbeck, Bryn Evans and Will Brady rushed the opposition and won 50-50 tackles all over the pitch and even when Broxbourne won a couple of penalty corners, they which were comfortably dealt with by the Welwyn defence and the excellent line speed of Pete Mullens.

They probably should have broken the deadlock well before they finally did.

Brady combined with Last and Allmand-Smith down the left before getting the ball back and calmly firing through the goalkeeper's legs.

That was the only goal they could muster in the first period. However, after the break they were at their clinical best.

It took just two minutes to extend the lead, Skilbeck drilling the ball into the D from the right for Allmand-Smith to gather and slot home, and shortly after it was three, Allmand-Smith getting his second after good work from Evans and Last.

Broxbourne did have chances after that, Dan Klinger making one fine save, but they were still able to break and it was from one such attack that number four arrived, Allmand-Smith this time turning provider and setting up Last.

Paul Marchant provided the telling pass for number five, beating a few players before giving Last his second, and it was only at the end of the game that Broxbourne grabbed a consolation from a penalty corner.

Welwyn are next back in action on January 14 when they go to Hertford.

The weather put pay to all of the other fixtures in the club, bar one.

That was also at their Herts Sports Village home but saw the women's fourth team beaten 4-0 by Saffron Walden.