Hampstead overcame a nervous start at Southgate to secure their second victory of the season in the Premier Division of the Middlesex County League – and chairman Nick Brown says the result has “transformed the mood”.

The reigning champions, who had lost four of their opening five games, elected to bat first but quickly found themselves 3-2 after George Adair (0) and Henry Collier (2) were dismissed cheaply.

However, opener Sam Evison (35) and captain Steve Clark (47) led a recovery with a 73-run partnership and, after Ollie Steele (27) and Liam Hughes (10) had contributed in the middle order, No8 Archie Fellowes struck 38 as Hampstead reached 189 before being bowled out in the 59th over.

It proved to be a winning total. Hugo Peterson took 4-35 – aided by Clark (2-17) and Collier (2-35) – as Southgate fell 49 runs short after 42.1 overs, with Haydan Morton the best of the home side’s batsmen.

Brown said: “This was a very important win for us. The league is very tight and slipping further back would have been another hit to what was already quite fragile confidence, but the win has transformed the mood.

“At 3-2 I suspect there was quite a lot of tension in the dressing room, but Steve and Sam batted well on what was a moderate playing surface to give us a platform to get a score – and we were indebted to Archie for taking us up to what we thought was maybe 20 or 30 runs above par.

“Hugo was the star with the ball – he can bowl with genuine pace. Having had a couple of years out of the game he has been getting his fitness up in the second team.

This week he finally got his chance and he took it with both hands. We’re delighted for him, and so is he!”

Meanwhile, Brondesbury’s three-match winning streak in Division Two was ended as they suffered a four-wicket defeat at Barnes.

Bron’s Anthony Wilkinson was the top scorer in the match with 71 but the visitors were bowled out for 187 in 53 overs, as overseas player John Olive took 6-45.

Olive then hit an unbeaten 64, while James Alder struck 52, as Barnes reached the target in 41 overs, despite Steven Male taking 4-46.