The odds no longer favour a promotion to Women’s Division 2 for Leeds Hammerheads, despite a spirited and dramatic 24-goal Champs 2 weekend in Walsall during which they narrowly lost to Birmingham and snatched a dying seconds victory against Mid-Sussex Marlins.

In order to progress from Division 3 next year, the ladies must now beat both of their remaining opponents – one of which; Liverpool, is the tournament’s only unbeaten side. And if that's not tough enough, the teams in the other three places above Leeds must also all lose.

Sophie Sowerby opened the Hammerheads’ goal account with a startling shot following a crafty pass from Louise Boaz, but it didn’t take Birmingham long to respond with four quick goals. Only some high class defensive work from Holly Short, Terri Millington and Jenny Worrell – and a cleverly-worked goal from Leeds’ top scorer Lisa Marshall, kept the deficit to three goals at half-time.

Birmingham started to pull away again quickly and were 6-2 up within the first few minutes of the second half. Undaunted, the Hammerheads maintained their composure and clawed their way back into the match with tremendous goals from Holly Short and Jas Littler.

Wave after wave of pressure from Birmingham eventually rattled the Leeds defence and produced two quick unanswered goals to take the score to 8-4 at the end of the third quarter.

Again the Hammerheads showed their mettle with a second unstoppable shot from Jas Littler - who then quickly added a third from the penalty spot.

With only the dying embers of the match remaining, Birmingham once again stepped-up with five fast goals which were answered by four more from Selene Chew, Lauren Richardson, Ellie Sowerby and Jas Littler - again via a penalty, to end the tussle 13-10.

The Marlins dived into the pool on Sunday clearly intent on defying their second from bottom league position, and fought a clean but physical tit-for-tat match in which the lead changed hands six times and yet in which neither side ever found themselves more than a single goal ahead.

Goals for Selene Chew, Shevonne Lowth (3), Holly Short, Lauren Richardson and Jas Littler sent Leeds into half-time with a justified 7-6 lead.

The Marlins scored first blood within seconds of the start of the second half and continued to match the goal-scoring efforts of the Hammerheads’ Jas Littler (2), Selene Chew to keep the score line neck and neck at 10-10 going into the final spell.

Thoughtful defensive play from Louise Boaz and Sophie Sowerby and three spirited saves from Rachel Thompson in goal kept the Marlins scoreline down to just three final quarter goals.

Louise Boaz also shone at the other end with an inspired solo effort that produced the goal of the game. Jas Littler, Shevonne Lowth and Lisa Marshall also added to their weekend tally to hand Leeds a thrilling 14-13 victory.