Canterbury Ladies battled back from a goal down to beat rivals Clifton 3-2 in the Investec National Premier Division on Sunday.

The Bristol side took a 19th-minute lead through Jo Leigh and they retained the advantage until eight minutes into the second half when Nikki Kidd fired home from a penalty corner.

An own-goal three minutes later completed the turnaround and Kidd fired her second from a penalty stroke after 62 minutes.

Clifton did pull one back a minute from time through Zoe Leach but Canterbury held on to win and keep pace with leaders Reading, who won 2-0 at Bowden, while third-placed Surbiton also secured three points at Beeston.

It leaves the city club second only on goal-difference with a five-point gap to Surbiton and a seven-point lead over the play-off chasing pack.

However Canterbury’s men suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at Hampstead & Westminster on Saturday in NOW Pensions National Premier Division.

Mickel Pierre put the city club ahead from a penalty corner on 10 minutes and all looked good for Canterbury to go level on points with fourth-placed Surbiton, who drew at East Grinstead.

However Oliver Didham restored parity nine minutes into the second-half and the Londoners snatched a dramatic win in the dying seconds through Neil Hamilton for their first victory in more than a month.

Canterbury remain three points adrift of Surbiton, but third-placed Reading are a further five points ahead.