Chameleons met Upstarts on Sunday in a battle for second place and a last round charge for the men?s title ? should league leading Panthers slip up down the home stretch.

And it was Chameleons who emerged triumphant with the only goal of the game.

The match started with a flurry of Upstarts probing attacks and crisp shots on goal. The Chameleons defensive line held their own but the agility of their ?keeper, Mark Stevens, kept Upstarts off the scoresheet.

It took the first and only Chameleon short corner of the first half to break the deadlock. Mark Pettingill?s injection was smoothly received and sweetly converted by the league?s top goalscorer Stevie Moreton.

Attacking play by both teams in the second half was handled without too much trouble by the defensive units. Upstarts lost their centre forward at half-time and in the second half seemed to misfire up front.

At the end of the half, Chameleons found themselves playing short as two players were yellow carded ? including captain Bill Spencer ? and off the pitch at the same time.

They were soon joined in the ?sin bin? by Upstarts goalkeeper Mike Foster, sent off for deliberately playing the ball with his feet outside the D.

The half played out without any further scoring and Chameleons collected the three points.

The win takes them to 25 points, just one behind leading Panthers who have a game in hand.

Also on Sunday, Polecats picked up a 4-0 win over Rebels.

In the women?s league, Cardinals squeaked out a 1-0 win over Orioles on Saturday to move up to the top of the B table.

Cardinals attacked aggressively with four short corners being awarded in quick succession in the early minutes of play. But Orioles eventually responded with a string of shorts of their own.

The majority of the first half was spent trying to wear down the opposition, with both sides frustrated by the lack of meaningful headway being made in their opponents? half.

In the opening minutes of the second half, however, Emma Norman made a great run down the wing and slipped a cross in to Stephanie Adderley who was well placed to put Cardinals first and only goal in the net.

Orioles made several more determined runs late in the game as they pressed for the equaliser but the Cards defence were in determined mood, holding them scoreless and earning valuable points.

The win gave Card 29 points while Swallows, who did not play on the weekend, now trail them by three points. Swallows, however, still have three games left to pick up ground, while Cardinals have two.

In other B league play, Ravens grabbed a 2-0 win over Bluebirds.

It was the last meeting of the season between these two teams and they fought a tough battle.

Ravens leapt ahead with an early goal on a short corner from Melanie Fullerton.

Bluebirds came back to hold possession for much of the match but they were ultimately denied by Ravens? stand-in ?keeper Megan Spurling and her defensive team.

After the break, both teams had several attempts at goal but, in the final minute, Elizabeth Gardner ensured the Ravens victory.

In the only other B match, Swifts and Canaries battled to a scoreless draw.

Only two games were played in the A league with Canaries picking up a 7-2 win over Swifts while Ravens grabbed a 3-1 victory over Bluebirds.