Womens English League Division OneFirebrands 1 Harleston Magpies 2With a double header of games over the weekend Magpies made the perfect return to League action when Anna Truman opened the scoring with an excellent reverse stick shot after ten minutes.

Womens English League Division One

Firebrands 1 Harleston Magpies 2

With a double header of games over the weekend Magpies made the perfect return to League action when Anna Truman opened the scoring with an excellent reverse stick shot after ten minutes.

Six minutes later Angie Wheelhouse made no mistake from a cross from the right to put Magpies 2-0 in front. The confidence from these early goals enabled Magpies to control the midfield as they increasingly found their passes with some good attacking moves.

Firebrands upped their performance considerably in the second half and Magpies did not have it all their own way as they found themselves facing a team that suddenly had the bit between their teeth. Even so Magpies squandered a number of good chances that could have put the game out of

reach. After 58 minutes Georgie Field pulled a goal back for Firebrands and Magpies had to play out an uncomfortable final ten minutes before clinching all three points.

Clifton 1 Harleston Magpies 0

Sunday's game saw second placed Magpies play third placed Clifton in a titanic battle.

Magpies produced one of their best performances of the season as they unsettled Clifton in the first half, pressing them all over the pitch with a tremendous work ethic and discipline.

There were few chances in this game for either side in what turned out to be a very tight match.

Magpies defended well as a team but were also finding it hard to break Clifton down.

The second half continued in the same pattern as there was nothing to choose between the two teams in a gripping match and it looked as though an inspired goal or penalty corner for either side would clinch the match.

The game was decided ten minutes from time when an absurd yellow card saw Magpies reduced to ten players. Magpies had to reorganise quickly but it gave Clifton a massive advantage and with four minutes to go Dawn Mitchell scored the winner.