The more things change, the more they stay the same seemed to be the lesson as Harpenden Town were saved by James Ewington one more time.

Harps were 2-1 down to Arlesey Town in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division as the game entered the final minute of normal time but the ace marksman took a touch and did what he does best to leave it at 2-2.

Kyle Rahho had dragged them level in the first period with a thunderous effort from distance and at half-time, the Rothamsted Park side were disappointed still to be level.

Arlesey were far better after the break though and a second from Rory Busby had threatened to see them take all the spoils until Ewington's moment.

Colney Heath meanwhile lost 1-0 at home to Leverstock Green, their fourth successive defeat in all competitions.

The goal had come on six minutes, Dan Pett picking up the ball on the edge of the area and firing low past Connor Sansom.

For the rest of the first half, the Mags tried everything they could to get back in the game.

Sam Doolan fired over while George Sippetts hit the side netting and Ibrahim Camara have a low shot pushed around the far upright by Josh Bowler.

The second period saw more chances for the visitors while Colney, who did enjoy some good possession, have precious few.

Sippetts had a well struck shot saved by Bowler while he headed another effort wide.

It was only in the closing stages that hopes were really raised and they came once again from Sansom.

Having scored against MK Irish in September, he twice came up for late corners heading both wide although the first of them brushed the outside of the upright.

The reserves were also beaten, 2-1 away to Chipperfield Corinthians in the Herts Senior County League Premier Division, Josh Cross getting the only goal, but the U18s won 2-1 against Codicote in the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League .

Khalil Simmonds scored in the first half and Joe Warren in the second.

The ladies were winners too, beating Buntingford Town 4-0 away in the Beds & Herts League Cup.

Olivia Corbett, Abbey Williams, Cally Salter and Mia Simmonds got the goals as the Magpies made it seven games without defeat.

Harpenden Town ladies remain hot on the heels of the Eastern Region Division One North leaders thanks to a 4-0 win at home to Newmarket Town.

They remain one point behind Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers, with the pair set to meet for the first time this year in the final game before the Christmas break.

Harpenden's impressive win over Newmarket will give them plenty of confidence though.

They went in front early on, Sophia Amanor holding off a challenge before slipping it under the body of keeper Grace Joslin.

That was on six minutes and it was another 24 minutes before Amanor and Harpenden doubled their tally, getting on the end of Natalie Cloy's square ball into the box.

Harpenden keeper Sophie Harris and skipper Rebecca Dowdall then produced fine defensive stops to keep the home side in front by two until the break.

Belle Shannon made her return to the green and yellow at the start of the second period, partnering Amanor in attack, but Harpenden were also forced to sub Chloe Dinsey who went off with a bang to the head after four players went for the same ball in a scramble.

But the hosts bounced straight back from that on 65 minutes as Amanor completed her hat-trick, taking a ball from Erin Shacklock in her stride and then rounding the keeper.

That's 24 for the season now for the hotshot striker.

It nearly became 4-0 when Jasmine Hughes fizzed a low shot towards the Newmarket goal, only for the post to keep the ball out, but she would not be denied her prize and three minutes from time, she raced onto an Iva Hrisimova chip through and scored from the edge of the box.

Shannon almost made it a five-star day and a great return for her but her effort clipped the top of the crossbar and it stayed at four.

In Division One of the Combined Counties League, Dion Laughton was on target as London Colney lost 5-2 away to British Airways.

It was a good day for the St Albans Primary Schools district U11 teams.

The Blues beat Woking B 7-0 in a match that doubled as both a Geoff Richards League & Shires Cup tie and a Geoff Richards Memorial League fixture.

The goals came from Rance (two), Burgoyne-Richards, Rowland, Brierley, Dyer and Pidgeon.

The girls also played Woking and also won in their Girls Southern Counties League.

Sizer hit a hat-trick in the 5-1 win with Kelly and Boxill-Roope getting the others.

In a representative match, the Yellows beat Hackney 5-3 with goals from Duncan (two), Hodgkinson and Mendez-Barral.

A spokesman for the district said: "It was a mixed bag from the Yellows - a superb first half and in control and then an indifferent second where Hackney got back into the game.

"Fortunately the class came through to win the game fairly comfortably in the end.

"It was a good day all round for our young Saints."