Harleston Ladies 3, Chelmsford 1.HARLESTON Magpies Ladies recorded their third successive league win to beat fourth-placed Chelmsford.This opens up a gap of four points between themselves and the visitors and also to move within five points of the leaders, Ipswich.

Harleston Ladies 3, Chelmsford 1.

HARLESTON Magpies Ladies recorded their third successive league win to beat fourth-placed Chelmsford.

This opens up a gap of four points between themselves and the visitors and also to move within five points of the leaders, Ipswich.

Magpies were off to a flying start, as Debbie McAllen quickly found Angie Wheelhouse with a ball down the left wing and her early cross into the circle involved Artemis Clark winning a crucial tackle, which allowed Ellie Bale to score after two minutes, slotting her shot home with the reverse stick.

Chelmsford responded well to this early setback and controlled the midfield for long spells as Magpies found it difficult to clear the ball out of their own half.

Despite all this pressure Magpies defended well, making some big tackles and Chelmsford found it difficult to create real scoring chances. However, if a team is continually under pressure it is inevitable that they will concede penalty corners and Chelmsford must have won at least seven penalty corners in the first half.

Fortunately good goalkeeping from Lucy Hayman, erratic shooting, and excellent defending ensured that Magpies turned round at half-time 1-0 up against the run of play.

Fortunately Magpies turned the game round in the second half as their midfield, which has been so dominant this season, took control of the game and at last gave the forwards some quality passes and support.

On 49 minutes a through-ball from Debbie McAllen saw a great pick-up on the reverse stick from Angie Wheelhouse, who drove past the last defender to fire her shot past the goalkeeper.

Within a minute, Magpies were 3-0 in front as great work from Frances Sumner saw her pass to Artemis Clark, who took the ball past the goalkeeper to score. These two terrific goals completely killed off Chelmsford as Magpies were now stretching the Chelmsford defence, with Charlotte Harrison, playing as a makeshift forward, and Verity Blyth playing a big part.

On 58 minutes Chelmsford scored a consolation goal from Sarah Glanvill, but Magpies restored their concentration to see out the final 12 minutes of the game and looked the more likely side to add to their tally.

This was an excellent team performance, made all the more creditable as Magpies were missing two forwards, Cherry Seaborn and Emily Wilford, who played a big part in the win the previous week.

Next Saturday Magpies are at home against Old Loughtonians.