AFTER five matches in the Eastern Skater Hockey Association (ESHA) junior league, London Street Warriors are two points off the top spot.

Having thumped Havering Liberators 13-1, Warriors climbed to third in the six-team table.

They are now hoping joint top teams Borehamwood Kings and Basildon Alstarz slip up in their remaining fixtures.

Against Liberators, the Warriors put the disappointment of defeat against Alstarz with a heavy victory to boost the all-important goal difference.

The juniors started slowly but sped up when Luke Austerberry, ably assisted by Richard Dobson, opened the scoring.

It was 2-0 very quickly when, from a face-off, Luke passed to Dobson who clattered the ball home.

Although the Liberators grabbed a goal, Warrior Ruaridh McQuarrie scored to make it 3-1at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Warriors moved out of reach with Matt scoring the first of four goals.

It was even better in the third quarter when, without response, Warriors added six to the scoreline.

A Warriors spokesman said: "We have been practising quick passing which was evident today and led to chances to add to the tally.

"It was really encouraging though to see the defenders putting in some hard and quick passes to release the forwards who passed with more accuracy and power than at the beginning of the season.

"There is a definite improvement in our style of play now and we're looking forward to the national tournament at Oxford.

"Then we tackle all the ESHA teams again in round two of the league."

He added: "The teams we beat in round one will be out for revenge and we also need to grab a win against at least Borehamwood or Alstarz to improve our final position at the end of the year."

In the senior league Warriors climbed to second spot behind unbeaten Borehamwood Crusaders having beaten north London Enforcers 14-2.

The youth Warriors are finding life tough without a win in their opening four games and conceding an average of 13 goals each time.

Finally the Pee Wee Warriors almost caused a shock when they came within a whisker of beating top of the table Spitfires before eventually going down 5-6.

With four points, Warriors are now wedged firmly in the middle of the five-team league four points off the joint top teams and three above the joint basement clubs.

Against Spitfires, rookie net-minder Ryan Richardson had his best outing for Warriors including saving a penalty shot while Michael Crosse, with a hat-trick, and Jerryl Joseph's brace completed the scoring.