Ards continued their unbeaten start in the Legacy Wealth Management Premier League as they sealed a convincing 6-0 win against Ballymoney on Saturday.
The win keeps the side top of the division, but just one point separates the top three places, with Belfast Harlequins and Lisnagarvey making up the EYHL2 spots.
After a goalless first quarter in Ballymoney, Ards found their breakthrough after Emma Reid’s solo effort, before Ali Carson found Susie Cotter, who fired in for a quickfire second just moments later.
At the start of the second quarter, youngster Alana Thornton picked out Zara Malseed for her fourth goal of the season before she turned provider as Alana Doyle added a fourth Ards goal from a penalty corner.
The final quarter saw two more goals for the visitors as Carson got her side’s fifth of the afternoon before Doyle doubled her tally from another penalty corner to seal the 6-0 victory.
At Deramore Park, Belfast Harlequins sealed a fourth win in a row as they beat Omagh 2-0.
Having piled on the pressure throughout the first quarter, the hosts were awarded a penalty stroke five minutes before the half-time break, with Katie Larmour opening the scoring with her fourth goal of the campaign.
Despite a strong Omagh defensive performance, Quins doubled their tally late on as they were awarded a penalty corner and Katherine Welshman’s straight strike beat the goalkeeper, having taken a touch off a defender’s foot.
On Friday night, Lisnagarvey continued their push at the top of the division as they beat Larne 4-0 at Comber Road.
On top for much of the opening quarter, Garvey finally found the breakthrough when a quickly taken free on the edge of the circle made its way to Scarlett Swann’s and her reverse strike squeezed past Trish Neill in the visiting goal.
It remained 1-0 until the third quarter when Jess Moore finally made the home pressure count as her reverse strike from a penalty corner was fired into the bottom corner.
Almost immediately after it became 3-0 as Lisnagarvey caught their opponents on the break and Rachel Cox rounded Neill in goal to be left with an open goal before Beth Ravey rounded off the scoring with her ninth goal of the season coming from a deflection at a penalty corner.
The final game of the weekend saw Lurgan climb to fourth in the table as they sealed a narrow 2-1 win over Armagh.
Two goals from Lauren Wright sealed the win for the side despite Hannah Redmond scoring a rebound from a penalty corner for the visitors.
The win sees Lurgan stay within touching distance of the leading pack, whilst Armagh remain eighth, four points ahead of ninth-placed Omagh.