HORWICH Hockey Club ladies' first team moved a step closer to the Greater Manchester League Division Two title with a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over City of Manchester second team.

With four games remaining, they are six points clear at the top of the table after goals by Jeanette Brew and Rebecca Howarth took their league record for the season to 10 wins, two draws and two defeats.

Brew opened the scoring for the dominant hosts, slotting home a deflected shot from Rosie Swarbrick after 20 minutes.

Player-of-the-match Howarth doubled the lead in the second half with a sweetly-struck shot.

Eighth-placed City of Manchester halved the arrears 10 minutes from time when they eventually got the ball over the line during a goalmouth scramble in which Horwich keeper Nic Dodds made several saves before finally being beaten.

Horwich men made it a double win weekend for the club's first teams when they overcame Warrington first team 5-3 away – their third victory in succession leaving them seventh in North West League Division Four North.

The ninth-placed hosts took an early lead before the visitors played their way into the game and began to take control.

Tim Hayward ran strongly and laid the ball off to Andy Barr, who converted expertly.

After the two sides battled for supremacy in a 15-minute physical contest, Horwich – who deserved the victory with a fine team performance – made the breakthrough when Paul Buckland received the ball from Hayward and lashed it home to put his side 2-1 up.

Buckland then turned provider, finding David Whiteside who finished expertly to make it 3-1 at half time.

Two minutes after Warrington pulled a goal back, Horwich went 4-2 up with an excellent finish by Tony Sanderson.

Horwich pressure brought a fifth goal when Andy Robertson capped an impressive display with a well-taken effort – Buckland getting another assist – before Warrington scored a consolation.