Spencer Park get within a point of ladder leaders North Albany

North Albany and Spencer Park are separated by a single point heading into the final three rounds of the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association men’s A-grade season.

Park climbed within a point of the Redbacks on the table after their tense 3-2 win in round five on Friday night.

Goals from Darren Parkes, Tim Yap and Jay Pannell helped Park overcome Mt Barker and record their fourth win of the season.

Parkes was instrumental in the victory along with Liam Wesson and Charlie Hudson.

Mt Barker fought hard in an attempt to record their first win of the season and, despite the best efforts of Matt Perry, Trevor Macmahon and Byson Turner, they fell short.

The win was important for Park after Saturday’s other round five fixture between Manypeaks and Redbacks ended in a draw.

Redbacks still remain unbeaten having won all four of their previous games this season but they could not find a winner against a determined Peaks outfit.

Eddie McQuade was the goal scorer for Redbacks and Craig Gambrell also found the back of the net for Peaks as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Chris Metcalfe, Gambrell and youngster Ben Pratt shone for Peaks while Travis Douglas and Hamish Wilkes played well for Redbacks.

Redbacks and Park face off in the sole round six game this Saturday before Mt Barker and Peaks face off on Sunday, which commences round seven.

Meanwhile, former Hockeyroos striker Kathryn Slattery’s impact was felt in her return for Peaks in the women’s A-grade competition.

Slattery played her second game of the season and netted a hat-trick as Peaks won a high-scoring encounter 5-2 against the Redbacks.

Sienna Ball and Charlotte Edwards also got on the scoresheet as the victory got their side within one point of Redbacks in the standings.

In Friday’s other women’s A-grade clash, Mt Barker proved too strong for Vikings.

Laura Archer, Lani Frusher and Taya Pearson scored as Mt Barker finished 3-1 winners to move to four points clear of Vikings on the ladder.

With a top-three finals system, Vikings face a crucial round six contest against Redbacks this Saturday.

Peaks will meet Mt Barker on Sunday.