WESTSIDE remain in contention for promotion from the West Midlands League Division Two and sit in third place going into the Christmas break despite being held to a 35-35 draw by Copsewood Diamonds.

After losing by six points in the previous clash between the sides, Westside, with a starting line-up of Helen Hancock GS, Ellie Smith GA, Stacey Barker WA, Anna Mulderrig C, Emily Davies WD, Steph Snowzell GD and Aimee Phillips GK were keen to get revenge.

Both teams made strong starts but good shooting from Hancock and Smith saw the first quarter all square at 13 all.

Westside started to get the better of the Birmingham team in the second quarter as player-of-the-match Mulderrig denied their movement through linking with Barker and Davies.

But, as half-time approached, Diamonds put together a couple of fluent attacks to bring the score closer again at 23-22 to Westside.

At half-time, Phillips and Snowzell swapped to add more height in the circle, with Davies and Mulderrig also switching in an attempt to add more defensive pressure on the Diamonds attack.

However, due to illness, Davies was only able to spend a few minutes at C before needing to be replaced by Mulderrig with Katie Parkes coming on to WD.

Westside's attack came under immense pressure from the Diamonds’ physical defence and started to struggle to get the ball into the net with the third quarter ending all-square again.

Smith and Hancock then switched to try to generate different movement in the circle and the city team gained a slight lead before Diamonds pulled back again to secure the draw.