BASINGSTOKE Hockey Ladies third team kept alive their hopes of avoiding relegation by beating Gosport 3-0.

Gosport started strongly but within 10 minutes, Basingstoke took control of the game and put pressure on the Gosport goal, a number of chances being well saved by the opposition goalkeeper.

However, the deadlock was broken shortly before half time when Jude Bird took a free hit quickly and found Catherine Woodliffe in the circle to deflect the ball past the Gosport goalie.

In the second half, Basingstoke continued the forward pressure and doubled their lead when Rae Thompson played a precise ball to Bird at the near post to slap home.

Nicky Dowds then scored Basingstoke’s third, pouncing on a loose ball from the ‘keeper and finishing well on her reverse.

The fourths remain top of the league thanks to a 4-2 with at Eastleigh.

The game started evenly but it was Eastleigh who broke the deadlock, and despite several chances, Basingstoke went into half time 1-0 down.

However, the visitors came back strongly in the second half and soon equalised through Hannah Wheeler.

More goals quickly followed, Heidi Barker and Ulrike Maier scoring off rebounds, and Ella Lewis converting a penalty stroke. Eastleigh got another goal back but Basingstoke secured the three points.

The fifths played twice last weekend, firstly at home to top of the league Aldershot and Farnham, where they drew 2-2 thanks to goals from Tricia Flynn and Katie Hossick.

On Sunday, they hosted Portsmouth and Southsea in a re-arranged league game and won 2-0, thanks to Phillipa Spicer and Lyn Wood.

The ladies second team also played twice this weekend, firstly away at Haslemere on Saturday, followed by a re-arranged league game away at Winchester on Sunday. Unfortunately, no points were to be won, with the team going down 6-2 at Haslemere with goals from Leah Redding and Gilly Dunning, and a 3-0 against a strong Winchester side.

The men’s first team lost 4-1 away at Epsom. Epsom started the stronger of the teams but Basingstoke got into the game, a few good chances going narrowly wide, before Epsom went 1-0 up in open play.

Basingstoke soon equalised when they won consecutive short corners and Dean Record found Grant Rouse to convert.

In the second half, Basingstoke failed to take their chances but Epsom did, scoring 3 times to take the points.

The fourths beat Camberley and Farnborough 1-0 to ensure they remain in Division Six, the goal coming from Callum Saint from a penalty corner in the first five minutes. Elsewhere, the seconds drew 4-4 at home to Bournemouth, the thirds won 3-1 away at Salisbury, the fifths drew 1-1 at home to Lavant, Chris Jenkins with the strike, and the Vikings lost 3-1 away at Haslemere.