Canterbury Ladies remain on course for a Investec National Premier Division play-off spot after a comfortable 2-0 win over the University of Birmingham.

Susannah Townsend, fresh from a three-Test GB series in Spain, put the city club ahead at Polo Farm on Saturday with her third goal in two games after 28 minutes.

Anna Baker sealed the win eight minutes from time to keep the city club third, though second-placed Clifton grabbed a winner against Leicester seven minutes from time to remain six points clear of Canterbury,having played a game more.

Surbiton are top on goal-difference after a 3-1 win at Buckingham.

Holcombe are 10 points back but lead the way in the hunt for the fourth and final play-off place after a 4-1 drubbing of rock-bottom Beeston.

Nicola White opened the scoring from a penalty corner on nine minutes and two goals in three minutes after the break from Lucy Wood and Lauren Osborn made the game safe.

Tamsyn Naylor grabbed the fourth eight minutes from time while Erica Sanders converted a last-gasp penalty corner to give the visitors a consolation.

With five games remaining Holcs are ahead of fifth-placed Reading on goal-difference, though have played a game fewer, with the University of Birmingham a futher point back in sixth and seventh-placed Leicester another point behind.

Canterbury’s men appear doomed in NOW: Pensions Premier Division after allowing a lead to slip to another home defeat against Wimbledon.

The city club are bottom and now effectively 11 points adrift of even a hope of safety with just five games remaining.

Wei Adams put them ahead from a penalty corner but Ian Sloan levelled seconds before the break while James Osborn turned the game around on 43 minutes.

Michael Farrer and James Spain struck twice in 60 seconds to restore Canterbury’s lead midway through the second half.

However Blake Govers and Phil Roper made it 4-3 before Aussie import Craig Boyne levelled the game again with eight minutes to play.

The crucial ninth goal of the game arrived five minutes from time when Sloan converted a penalty corner to break Canterbury hearts.