Norwich City maintained their impressive start to the Division 2NE season when they beat Bury St Edmunds 3-0 to keep the pressure on early leaders Norwich Dragons II.
City have yet to concede a goal this season after five games, with only a goalless draw in their previous match with Panthers preventing them from being on level pegging with their near neighbours.
After a difficult match against Panthers City were eager for the chance to demonstrate their right to not only belong in the league above but to win this one as well.
The first goal came from a short corner which was won by Ellie Brine. The first Rachel Reynolds strike was saved by the keeper but Becca Green mopped up the rebound – a just result for her endless running.
The lead was stretched after the break when Reynolds found Mollae Scott who fired home in spectacular fashion.
City completed the scoring when Caitlin Dawkins found Debbie Painter who won a short corner. This was a brilliant team effort, with Fong Chung finishing it with a slap from close range.
Norwich Dragons II made it five wins out of five when they won 3-1 at Ipswich III.
A great solo effort from player-of-the-match Aoife Lowe-Davies gave Dragons an early lead.
A battling first half concluded at 1-0, a score which reflected a tight game, but any lingering nerves were settled in the last 15 minutes. Dragons earned a short corner, which Emily Rolls slipped to Gail Thomas who found Marcy Windsor-Waite to convert.
Further Dragons pressure saw good work down the left by Karen O'Neill-Simpson, who found Hannah Hardy in space and she placed the ball in at a tight angle, to make it 3-0.
Ipswich scored a late consolation but by then the points were in the bag.
Norwich City II slipped to a fourth defeat in five games when they lost 2-0 at Lowestoft.
With a lot of players unavailability, City still managed to field a team of 12 with Olivia Broadway, Rishika Kaushal and Abbie Ingham joining the team.
Danni Garwood, Helen Aston, Karren Dagless and Summer Haylock were again strong in defence but they couldn't prevent Lowestoft from scoring a goal in each half.
In the Premier Division Harleston Magpies II beat Broxbourne 4-2 to move up to sixth in the table.
Susan Wessels slipped the ball to Anna Tighe to open the scoring before Catriona MacIver finished calmly first time on the left post.
Mel Ludlam made it 3-0 as she continued her run and finished from close range after a pass from Maria Andrews.
Broxbourne then pulled a couple back before Wessels unleashed a sensational reverse stick strike into the top right corner to seal the win.
Magpies are now one point ahead of newly promoted Norwich Dragons who were beaten 3-0 at home by Cambridge City. Dragons have now lost three games on the trot, after winning their first two at a higher level.
Dereham continue to lead the way in Division 1N with a hat-trick from Evie Gardner securing a 3-0 victory over Wisbech. They are level on points with Lincoln who have also taken 13 points from the opening five games.
Elsewhere North Norfolk were involved in a seven-goal thriller at Cromer, with visitors Letchworth winning 4-3, while Watton lost 4-1 at Blueharts.
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