Uni of Durham Ladies 2nds 0

Pendle Forest Ladies 1sts 3

PENDLE Forest will once again put their magnificent unbeaten run to the test on Saturday when they host second-placed Doncaster Ladies.

Forest stretched that run to 85 games with a comfortable win over University of Durham Ladies to remain eight points clear at the top of the Premier Division in the North Hockey Women's League.

However Doncaster will offer a different proposition when they come to Marsden Community College at the weekend - just as Wakefield Ladies did a fortnight ago.

On that occasion, Wakefield arrived in second placed and looked on course to end Pendle's record when they opened up a 2-0 lead only for the Forest to fight back to earn a draw - dropping their first points of the season.

Against Durham, Forest were in fine form, inspired by player of the match Lisa Crewe who scored two goals.

The University side had Forest on the back foot in the opening exchanges, playing at pace and stretching the visitors in the early minutes of the game.

But it was Forest who opened the scoring when Freya Bythell found Charlotte Hartley who beat two defenders before laying the ball square to the unmarked Crewe who converted with ease.

Crewe was also in action at the defending end, making two important block saves at penalty corners. Keeper Laura Kendall also made a crucial save to keep Durham at bay.

And just before the break, Forest doubled their lead when Crewe swept the ball home from a penalty corner.

Durham went on the attack after break, cutting into the D several times but made no real impact on Forest goal.

At the other end, the home side's defence worked hard to keep Forest at bay with Steph Bedford and Hartley both going close.

But Pendle grabbed a third goal in the last play of the game when Hartley pulled the ball back from the backlinefor Thea Cormack to score.

Pendle Forest Ladies 2nds 1

Lancaster 2nds 0

PENDLE gained revenge for their 2-1 defeat earlier in the season thanks to a goal from Cath Hutchinson.

After an end-to-end first half both sides created chances with Zoe Kidney going closest for the home side after good work from

Sarah Towers, Ali de Curtis, Francesca Ratcliffe and Cath Killgallon.

Pendle continued to put pressure on visitors in the second half and finally made the breakthrough 10 minutes from time a penalty corner.

Ashworth fed de Curtis who slipped a pass left to Kilgallon. Her strike hit the post but following a goalmouth scramble, the ball fell to Hutchinson who picked her spot and calmly lifted the ball into the far corner over the keeper.