BURY ladies' first team took a step closer to promotion from Division Two of the Greater Manchester Hockey Association following a 5-1 win at Manchester Moss Park seconds on Saturday.

The comprehensive victory put the league leaders 13 points clear of third-placed University of Salford with five matches of the season remaining.

That means if they win and Salford lose this weekend Bury will be crowned champions.

Bury took the lead in the fourth minute when Emma Bailey converted a penalty stroke after Abby Barber had been fouled in the circle.

But third-bottom Moss Park equalised to make it 1-1 at the break.

The visitors were more clinical in the second half, powered on by a hat-trick from Kate Gledhill and a deflected effort from captain Jennifer Matthews.

Bury seconds remain bottom but are just a point behind Moss Park, who are hovering above the relegation zone. The two teams play at Bury on the final day of the season in what could be a relegation decider.

The men's first team got back to winning ways in Division Three North of the North West League following a heavy defeat the previous weekend.

They won 3-2 at Kendal thanks to a late goal from Joe Perkins.

Jack Marshall Grint opened the scoring for Bury in the 10th minute when he cleverly deflected Ian Hilary's cross into the roof of the net.

They doubled their lead through Adam Friend three minutes later after he sneaked in behind the home defence to touch a high looping ball past the stranded Kendal keeper.

But the hosts levelled with two goals either side of break, setting up a tense second half that saw men sin-binned for both sides before Perkins popped up to finish a well-worked short corner to seal the points.

The result saw Bury leapfrog Kendal into sixth.

The men's second team remain in second place and on course for promotion from Division Six North South, but any lingering hopes of the title were shattered by a 5-1 defeat at leaders St Helens.