Harleston Magpies held on to top spot in Premier Division A with a battling 2-1 win at lowly Blueharts.

The visitors went ahead after 15 minutes when Leigh Sitch slotted the ball to Rhodri Furlong and he fired his shot into the far corner of the net.

Reece Leonard had to be at his best to deny the hosts on several occasions, before Magpies added their second. After winning a free hit at the edge of the attacking circle, Andy Hipwell played a delightful one-two with Tristan Baynes before beating the keeper.

Blueharts scored with 10 minutes remaining following a clinical short corner, but Magpies held on to claim the points.

Dereham slipped to a 3-1 defeat at third-placed Bedford.

The hosts started strongly and took the lead on 20 minutes following a short corner, but Dereham replied in similar fashion as Mark Braybrook delivered the ball towards the back post, where Mike Timm diverted it into the net.

Bedford regained the initiative shortly after half-time and went on to dominate proceedings, although Will Edwards and Braybrook both came close to an equaliser. But as the visitors committed men forward, Bedford wrapped up the win with a third goal late on.

In Premier B, Norwich City clinched their first away win of the season as they beat Crostyx 8-4.

Chris Perry's drag flick from a short corner after just two minutes put City in front and 10 minutes later Perry converted a penalty stroke.

Crostyx reduced the arrears shortly before half-time, but City immediately restored their two-goal cushion as Chris Wardale netted from a rebound.

Five minutes into the second half, George Anthony's reverse stick effort made it 4-1 and Wardale again gobbled up a rebound to add the fifth.

Crostyx scored again from a short corner, but Jez Elliott's deft chip and a screamer from Anthony put City back in charge. Dave Skinner's tap-in made it 8-3 before Crostyx scored in the final minute.

Norwich Dragons bagged a late equaliser to earn a point in a 2-2 draw at Cambridge University III in Division 2N.

Steve Woodward gave Dragons the lead with a reverse sweep into the net after the initial effort was saved. Piers Gordon-Brown's goal-line block rolled onto his foot, giving Cambridge a penalty stroke, which they converted to make it all-square at half-time.

The hosts took the lead in the second period, but after the post had denied Jason Wolfe an equaliser, Matt Knights netted from close range to give Dragons a point.

Division 3NE leaders Norwich City II were handed their first defeat of the season by Harleston Magpies IV.

City enjoyed plenty of pressure in the first half but could not make the breakthrough and Magpies scored the only goal of the game early in the second half with a reverse stick strike from the top of the D.

Will Dewing fired a hat-trick as Dereham III won 4-0 at UEA II in Division 4NE.

Andy Dear was the other Dereham player on target.

Norwich City IV were beaten 4-2 at Felixstowe, with Ady Marr and Tim Crane scoring for the visitors.

Norwich Dragons II kept the pressure on leaders Ipswich & East Suffolk II with a 1-0 win at home to Bury St Edmunds II.

Andy Kelsall's well-struck shot took a deflection on its way into the net as Dragons scored the only goal of the game in the first half.

Division 5NE leaders Norwich Dragons III faced the team one place below them at the start of play, Norwich City V and duly dispatched them 3-1.

Adrian Kemp gave Dragons the lead before Guy Marchant pulled City level.

Gary Burgess' reverse stick shot put Dragons back in front in the second half and after City had a man sent off, Matt Jenkins added the third.

In Division 6NE, North Walsham III recovered from 3-0 down to draw 4-4 at Pelicans Vets.

John Pye, David Duncomb and Chris Balding (2) were Walsham's scorers.