Broadland extended their lead at the top of the Empresa Norfolk League Premier Division to six points with a 3-0 victory over closest rivals Norwich City III.

Both sides had their moments before Broadland began to assert themselves towards the end of the first half and they took the lead when the hard-working Helen Brockington slipped the ball to leading scorer Dani Parke, who slotted the ball home.

The second half was dominated by Broadland who extended their lead when Kelly Allen was in the right place at the right time to make it 2-0.

City visibly wilted as Broadland began to pile on the pressure and conceded again near the end. Brockington's first time shot at the final penalty corner of the game was well defended but the ball was worked round to George Stannett who volleyed it high into the net for her first of the season.

Third-placed Loddon closed the gap on City to four points by beating Norwich Dragons IV 2-1 while fourth-placed UEA II won 3-1 at Pelicans II.

Broadland II boosted their survival hopes in the top flight when they won a basement battle at Dereham III 3-1. Nikki Baker's powerful strike from a penalty corner ricocheted into the roof of the net off a defender's stick to open the scoring and Baker doubled Broadland's lead a few minutes later, ghosting behind the last defender to direct the ball into the Dereham net.

Eleanor Ampleford pulled a goal back for Dereham but Broadland had the final say as Holley Becker skilfully side-stepped a last ditch challenge to slip the ball past the keeper.

In the remaining top flight games Evergreens won 3-0 at Norwich City IV and Harleston Magpies IV hammered Lowestoft Railway 7-2.

The game of the day in Division One ended all square, with leaders Diss drawing 1-1 with second placed Carrow. That provided an opportunity for the chasing pack to close the gap and Reepham and the fifth teams of Harleston Magpies, Norwich Dragons and Norwich City all picked up maximum points to boost their promotion bids.

Magpies won 4-0 at Beccles, Reepham beat Yarmouth II 7-2, Dragons crushed Lowestoft Railway II 11-0 and City came through a tight game against Dragons VI 3-1.

Harleston Magpies Ladies impressed in the first weekend of national indoor action at Bristol.

They picked up three wins and a draw to lie second on goal difference at the halfway stage, with Sutton Coldfield leading with maximum points.

Magpies made the perfect start against Chelmsford, winning 8-2 with goals from Sarah Brook 2, Emma Lee-Smith 2, Lara Taylor, Lauren Rowe, Charlotte Harrison and Aoife Lowe-Davies. The second game against Surbiton was a tough one, with Magpies having to settle for a 3-3 draw (Brook 2, Kristine Ayling).

On the second day Magpies saw off Cambridge City 4-2 with Lee-Smith scoring twice and Ayling and Taylor also on target and then beat University of Birmingham 6-2 (Rowe 2, Lee-Smith, Taylor, Harrison, Brooks).

The team, led by player coach Lee-Smith, are in a good position going into the second weekend at Nottingham.

Squad: E Lee-Smith, L Barber, M Brown, K Ayling, L Rowe, S Brook, C Harrison, A Lowe-Davies, L Taylor.