High-flying Sunderland, who are pushing for promotion to the Premier Division, know they were very lucky to come away with all three points against Harleston Magpies Ladies.

High-flying Sunderland, who are pushing for promotion to the Premier Division, know they were very lucky to come away with all three points against Harleston Magpies Ladies.

In a scrappy game Sunderland hardly troubled the keeper in the first half and were extremely fortunate to be allowed to take the lead from a controversial penalty corner. And then, to add insult to injury, as Lucy Hayman saved the penalty-corner strike the covering defender Debbie McAllen was pushed in the back which allowed Sunderland their chance to score.

Magpies kept battling away in the second half and it was hard to believe that this was the team that beat Magpies 7-0 at home early in the season.

The defence was superbly marshalled by captain Louisa Greenacre and Sunderland were clearly frustrated by their lack of chances. Angie Wheelhouse threatened to produce the equaliser on a number of occasions and was well supported by Kathryn Hinsley, Cherry Seaborn and Lizzie Clymer, making her National League debut.

Harleston Men hit a magnificent seven in their penultimate home league game of the season against already-relegated Harpenden.

In the previous encounter Harpenden had packed their D limiting the usual free-scoring Harleston to only three goals, but this time they came to play and attack in what turned out to be a very enjoyable game.

Harleston welcomed Dan Stasin to the squad for his first-team debut, the youngster making an early impression down the right. With the majority of the possession Harleston struggled to create any clear-cut chances in the first 15 minutes, despite the pressure mounting on the defence they held firm.

Harleston found the breakthrough after Andrew Bedwell and Tristan Baynes stole the ball on the left to play in Andy Hipwell who threaded the ball through to James Fanger to deflect the ball home.

Harleston started to carve the Harpenden defence open, Tom Sumner waltzing into the D before forcing his shot against a post from a tight angle with Neil Toulson unable to turn the rebound in.

Andy Hipwell grabbed two goals in quick succession both with well-taken short corners.

Iain Martin was called into action at a short corner to keep his clean sheet intact.

With the ball being played round the park well by the Harleston players the fourth goal came following super one-touch hockey down the right which allowed James Wheeler to sneak in and grab a goal.

In the second half Andy Hipwell fed Richard Gill at the top of the D and he audaciously lobbed the ball over the keeper. Wheeler grabbed his second, powering home from close range before Richard Gill grabbed the seventh from a short corner.