MARINE Academy Plymouth kept up their push for an instant return to the South West Women’s Premier Division with a 6-2 home win over Bideford on Sunday.
Marine Academy are two points clear at the top of the South West Western Division, with a game in hand.
They were slow starting against Bideford, who went ahead twice in the first half, but Marine eventually found their form.
Rebekah Rose, who has been in impressive form since signing, hit two, as did substitute Jodie Billington. There were also goals for captain Samantha Drewery and Megan Boulton.
Second-placed Saltash United kept the pressure on them with a 4-0 away win at Budleigh Salterton.
New signing Brittany Harris hit two goals for the Ashes on her debut, while there was also two for Nicola Champion.
The Ashes will travel to Marine Academy this coming weekend – just two weeks after the pair drew 1-1 at Kimberley Stadium.
In the South West Premier Division, Liskeard Athletic bagged another win with a 2-1 home success against Poole Town.
Georgie Talbot and Chloe Williams scored their goals as they stay in sixth spot, but they do have games in hand on all the teams above them.
In the Devon Women’s League South & West Division, third-placed SB Oak Villa suffered a blow to their title hopes with a 5-2 home defeat against leaders Juventus Devon Bianconer.
Oak Villa paid for a slow start and some poor defending in the opening 35 minutes as they went 4-1 behind.
They had taken the lead with a goal by Freya Jackson but Juventus hit four goals in the space of 20 minutes to take hold of the game.
Oak Villa pulled a goal back just before half-time with Jackson tapping in after great work down the right by Victoria Jasper.
They also threatened after the break but midway through the second period Juventus got a fifth on the counterattack and not long later Oak Villa suffered a blow with Jasper picking up a shoulder injury in a challenge with the visiting goalkeeper.
Juventus’ goals came from Abigail Scandrett (2), Ella-Mae Evans-Pitts (2) and Leanne Robbins.
There was a great game at the Parkway, where Lakeside Athletic were narrowly edged out 6-5 by Plainmoor.
Rebecca Richards bagged a hat-trick for Lakeside, who also had Freya Veevers and Lauren Hewings on the scoresheet.
Elsewhere in the division, Hunters District lost 6-0 at home to Shaldon Villa, having only trailed 1-0 at the break.
Second-placed Plympton did not have a league game but played a friendly against Cornwall League side Saltash Borough which they won 7-3.
Charley Putman bagged two for Plympton, with Ellie Dalton, Dionne Igalawuye, Ruby Mitchelmore, Daisy Canning and an own goal accounting for their others.
Plymouth Argyle were not in FA National League Southern Division action at the weekend, but they will play Bridgwater United in a crucial match on Thursday at Saltash’s Kimberley Stadium.
Their under-23 side did play at the weekend, but lost 3-0 at home to Southampton in the FA Women’s National League South West Reserve Division.
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