Dereham 1, Harleston Magpies 4

HOCKEY: Magpies claimed the local derby honours to leave their neighbours on the brink of a return to the East League from the Women's Conference.

While Magpies are just two points off second spot after a seventh straight victory, Dereham remain rooted to the foot of the East Conference table with just one win to their name all season.

Their only hope now is a relegation play-off, but even to achieve that they would need to win both their remaining games, while hoping Cambridge City took no more than one point from theirs.

Magpies led 2-0 at half-time. Dereham looked dangerous on the counter-attack and Magpies were forced to pull off some key tackles to deny opportunities in on goal throughout the half.

After 52 minutes the Magpies made it 3-0 from a penalty stroke after a short-corner strike hit a Dereham foot on the line.

Dereham continued to show determination and fight for the remainder of the game and Charlotte Lee-Smith in the Magpies' goal made a couple of excellent saves.

Dereham were rewarded with a goal after 59 minutes when Hannah Palmer scored a superb deflection. However, the game was put beyond the hosts when a penalty corner was converted.