This weekend’s Legacy Wealth Management Premier League action saw the top three all secure wins as the gap between Ards, Belfast Harlequins and Lisnagarvey remains just one point.
Meanwhile, there was also a first win of the season for Ballymoney as they came out on top in a bottom of the table six-pointer with Omagh.
The weekend got underway with two games on Friday night as both Ards and Garvey maintained title pace with wins.
Firstly, it was leaders Ards who got all three points when they edged past Banbridge at Strathearn.
In a tight game between the two in-form sides, it remained goalless until the end of the third quarter when the hosts were awarded a penalty corner.
It was Naomi Grundie’s strike that finally broke the deadlock as she got her first goal of the season, and just three minutes later Maddie Leathem doubled their advantage with her first strike this campaign.
Unable to find a route back into the tie, Banbridge were condemned to back-t0-back defeats for the first time this season.
Elsewhere, Lisnagarvey also continued their fine form as they beat Armagh 3-1.
Two goals from Beth McFerran and a strike from Shannon King helped seal the win, keeping Ryan McMaster’s side just one point off top spot.
The result saw the side win for a fourth week running – their best run of form in the division over the past two seasons.
Meanwhile, Armagh remain eighth in the league, having now gone five games without a win.
At The Glade, Belfast Harlequins won for the fifth game running as they beat Mossley 5-1.
The visitors took the lead with just six minutes on the clock, when Katie Larmour took a quick free on the edge of the Mossley circle before firing a reverse shot into the far bottom corner for her fifth goal of the season.
The Belfast side doubled their lead when they worked it well from back to front before Sophie Hunter found Claire Whiteside in the circle, and her first-time strike flew in at the near post.
Trailing 2-0, the hosts got a goal back as half-time approached, with Kate Spillane getting her first goal of the season to give her side a lifeline in the tie.
However, in the final quarter, Quins ran rampant as Katie Larmour got her second of the afternoon before Claire Whiteside’s threaded pass set up Sylvia Rose to add a fourth.
Whiteside then went on a solo run of her own before lifting her effort over the diving Mossley goalkeeper to round off a dominant win.
At the other end of the table, Ballymoney got their first win of the season as they beat Omagh 3-2.
Coming into the weekend, the two sides were separated by just one point, occupying the bottom two places and both without a win this campaign.
The deadlock was broken just 14 minutes into the tie when Anna Wright got her first goal of the afternoon before she doubled her sides advantage at the start of Q3.
However, shortly after, two Omagh players combined in the circle before Aimee Buchanan was left with a tap-in at the back post to make it 2-1.
The side were soon level when they won a penalty corner, which saw Sophie Egerton open her account for the season.
Then, with the quarter approaching its closing stages, Katie Burns restored the Ballymoney lead with what proved to be the game-winning goal as her side edged a narrow win over their relegation-threatened rivals.
The win sees Ballymoney leapfrog Omagh in the table, with the side now just two points behind Armagh in the final automatic safety place.
The final game of the weekend saw Lurgan stay within touching distance of the top three as they beat Larne 3-0.
Lydia McNeill continued her fine form in front of goal this season as she struck her fifth of the campaign alongside efforts from Lauren Wright and Chloe Gilard.
Andy Brown’s side remain fourth in the table just three points outside the EYHL2 places, whilst Larne lost for the fourth week running and remain seventh in the division.