Heating up B league competition last weekend, Swallows grabbed a 4-1 victory over Ravens to stay in the title race.

Ravens defence were on their heels early as Swallows pressed forward and got an early goal from a well executed short corner from Yvonne Slattery.

Ravens settled down and played a solid defensive game with Maggie Pocock and Emma Timperley anchoring play.

Another short corner was quickly converted by centre forward Jennie Moreton and Swallows continued their aggressive push in the second half, making some exciting runs down the wing.

A mighty cross from Slattery found Sarah Davies in perfect scoring position and her deflection into the net gave Swallows a 3-0 lead. Ravens soon countered, however, with a well executed pass from Donna Douglas to Ros Hanson who controlled it and passed it square to Rachel Smith who slotted home.

Solid work from Swallows Nicola Wilkinson and Jane Appleyard limited opportunities for Ravens to score after that and the one goal was the only one first time goalie Kat Dunleavy let by.

Swallows were able to score again in the last few minutes of the game, on another short corner; with Slattery picking up Mel Burns? solid hit out and slamming it home.

In other B play, Cardinals continued their winning streak with a 1-0 win over Orioles. Newly back from injury, Patricia Holder secured her team?s winning goal.

Cardinals also grabbed a A victory over Orioles.

Orioles A have been struggling this year and remain at the bottom of the standings.

Cardinals came out hard in the first half ? dominating most of the play.

Orioles defence were successful in holding them off until, in the last minute of the first half Cardinals earned a long corner, which resulted in the first goal of the game.

Great passing between Melanie Fullerton, Maria Pichery and Alex Mosher resulted in Patricia Holder receiving the ball and slapping it into the back of the net.

The second half saw more pressure from the Reds and great play from their backline. They were rewarded with a second goal when Laura Bardgett passed the ball from just outside the D to Pichery who finished it off to bring the final result to 2-0.

In men?s play, Rebels have solidified their new spot at the top of the table with a breathing room earning win over Police Polecats, with whom they have been battling for the number one spot.

Rebels went into the match with a tenuous one-point lead over Polecats and it could not have been a more tightly contested match.

In very blustery and somewhat slippery conditions, the Polecats started brightly and pinned Rebels deep in their own half forcing a series of short corners early on.

But Polecats failed to capitalise on their pressure and allowed Rebels to gain a foothold in the match.

The tireless Mark Ray directed Rebels play from centre-midfield to good effect and Rebels were able to convert possession into short corner opportunities.

Midway through the first half, Ray was left with room at the top of the Polecat circle. His deflected strike found its way past the Polecat goalkeeper and gave the Rebels the lead.

After the break, Polecats? much vaunted midfield were unable to assert control against a well-organised Rebel team with Ray truly outstanding at both ends of the field and supported admirably by Jason Dennis, Bert Rodney and Simon van de Weg.

But two late Polecat short corners meant the tension never let up.

With nothing to defend, Polecats threw every player forward to attack the corner and earned a second chance after a defensive infringement. The fired-up Rebels defence, however, was equal to the task the second time.

In the other men?s match, young Matt Spencer showed just how much of a difference he has made to his team, the BCS Panthers, by scoring all four goals to survive a 4-3 win over Upstarts.

The Panthers were able to exploit space around the field as Upstarts were forced to play short-handed for the entire game.

Spencer pounced in for two goals on either side of the half that seemed to dent the spirit of the Upstarts.

However, at 4-1 down, Upstarts refused to play dead.

Neil Carroll was on hand to scramble the ball home from close range, to add to Donny Moniz?s earlier goal. Sensing a comeback Moniz returned with a blast which ricocheted off the right-hand post and into touch.

But the equaliser never came and the Panthers grabbed yet another victory.