DRAWS for both of Olton & West Warwick’s first teams issued a positive response following defeats in their previous matches.
Fifth-placed Olton Ladies held Investec Division One North leaders Leicester City to a 2-2 draw on away soil after coming from behind to rescue a point.
Initially, it was visiting Olton who broke the deadlock, thanks to a sixth-minute strike from open play by Sally Walton.
Looking set to take that early advantage into the half-time break, a Leicester equaliser surfaced a minute before the interval, before a defensive error 15 minutes from time led to the hosts taking the lead.
But Olton remained undeterred, claiming their just reward when Walton finished clinically from a penalty corner in the 62nd minute.
The ladies will aim to build on their point when hosting Stourport, who are seventh, in Saturday’s midday meeting.
Olton’s men’s side were involved in another high-scoring stalemate, this time away to Leeds in a 3-3 draw.
It was perhaps unfortunate for the visitors, who also reside in fifth place, to come up against a Leeds side who knew they had to win to keep alive any hope of reaching Division One North safety.
Taking a ninth-minute lead, Leeds made their intentions clear and set out their stall to attack from the start.
This approach worked wonders, after a second goal followed in the 16th minute to leave Olton with a mountain to climb.
Dan Sulway restored hope just five minutes later when sweeping home from a penalty corner to leave the game in the balance again approaching the second half.
A Sam Samak stunner in the 55th minute levelled the scores, although Olton relinquished their equal status when losing a player to the sin bin and then conceding a third goal from a penalty corner.
With seconds remaining, a last-gasp penalty corner was buried by Tom Mallett to rescue a point and relegate Leeds.
A trip to sixth-placed University of Birmingham for the penultimate game of the season is Olton’s next task on Sunday (12.30pm).
A LATE comeback by Leicester Seconds was not enough to snatch three points from Solihull Blossomfield Ladies in their Midland Region Division One clash.
Bloss, who move level on points with Leicester in eighth as a result of the 3-2 win, stormed into a three-goal lead after Vicki Shuter (2) and Emily Perrin found the net.
While Leicester launched a late revival, it was not enough to take a share of the spoils.
The Seconds slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Coventry & North Warwick Firsts in Division One of the Warwickshire Womens League.
Solihull were punished for their inability to take chances, with the winning goal provided before half-time, to remain rock bottom.
In Division Three, the Thirds were forced to settle for a point in their 0-0 stalemate away to Warwick Fourths.
Sian Musgreave-Spiby spurned the best chance for third-placed Blossomfield with a chance in the closing minutes.
Top-of-the-league Cannock demonstrated their champions pedigree in their 6-3 rout of Solihull’s men’s first team.
Second-bottom Bloss had no answer to the runaway West Midlands Premier leaders, but at least had goals from Matt Pole (2) and Nisar Chaudhry to show for their efforts.
A six-goal thriller finished honours even in the South West Division One derby between Blossomfield Seconds and Edgbaston Fourths.
Solihull recovered from a three-goal deficit to bring themselves back into contention through Ali Christian’s quickfire double in the second half.
With minutes remaining, Al Stilling then fired a 65th-minute equaliser to rescue an unlikely draw for the tenth-placed side.
