NESTON South Wirral were 4-2 victors over Northern after a pulsating finish to their game at Parkgate.

With both teams hovering just above the relegation zone in North Division Two, it was a frenetic encounter as both sides went all out for the three points.

However, Northern's desperation to move the ball forward as quickly as possible was often their downfall as they regularly squandered possession to Neston's lively midfield.

Dutchman, Rogier Van Der Ouderaa put the Parkgate side in front as he smashed in from a set-piece, and Lawrence McNeight doubled the lead when he calmly slotted home from the penalty spot.

After the interval, Neston should have added to their lead with McNeight, Dan Khedun and Aled Jarvis all going close, but it was Northern who struck back midway through the half when Adam Batty clinically dispatched a penalty corner.

The game became increasingly fractious, with Van Der Ouderaa and Jarvis both involved in some "handbags" with Northern's Jason Batty, and it was Batty who seemed to have rescued a point for the visitors when he finished from a well rehearsed penalty corner with five minutes left.

However, Neston hit back immediately as Khedun scored from a penalty after McNeight was fouled, and there was still time for the evergreen Barrington Roberts to nip in for a rare goal on the final whistle.

This weekend, Neston face a difficult trip to take on a well drilled Bolton side.

Elsewhere, the ladies' first team continued their title charge in Cheshire Division Two, as they thrashed Brooklands 8-1.

Louise Swift grabbed a hat-trick, with doubles for Sally Bell and Suzy Twist, whilst Kerry Cowley notched the other.