HARWICH and Dovercourt Hockey Club ran out convincing 6-2 winners in their crucial Suffolk Women's League premier division contest against Felixstowe.

Both sides started this second verses third game playing tight hockey, having a chance or two on goal.

Felixstowe shut down the home side's midfield with some hard running.

From a foot in the circle, the Suffolk side then earned a short corner which was slammed goalwards.

Tracey Eagle, on the goal-line, stopped the shot but saw it agonisingly spin into the net.

This spurred the home side on, with Sophie Southgate running down the wing to square the ball to Rachel Griffin, who made no mistake.

The second half saw Harwich take control, with the away side unable to cope with Sophie Berryman in midfield.

Her running saw Griffin add a second and then Berryman scored a fine individual goal herself. Emma Joslin and sister Jess worked tirelessly and ran the away side ragged.

With Harwich playing a fast passing game, young Gabriel Williams made sure by deflecting a Berryman shot over the line for a fourth.

For a short period, Felixstowe rallied and scored after some pressure.

However, it was Harwich who finished the stronger, with Griffin getting her hat-trick from a penalty flick, following a Southgate shot being stopped by a Felixstowe knee.

She then added her fourth, diving to slam home a Southgate cross.

Harwich's defence of Eagle, Donna Garland, Carolyn Rowland and Lucy Henshall were solid throughout, with keeper Miah Reynolds playing well, despite suffering from illness.

Josie Brosnan put in a tremendous performance in midfield, while Abby Henshall is improving with every game, playing some superb passes.

However, the combination of Berryman, Emma Joslin, Southgate and Griffin pushing forward is going to be a lot to handle for most teams.

This puts Harwich clear in second place with a home game tomorrow against Ipswich side Castaways.