Ana Rocha struck five times while her sister Sara scored a crucial late penalty as Highbury Korfball Club gained a tense 16-14 victory over Nomads III in London Regional League One.

The Swiss Cottage-based outfit were nearly made to rue their failure to close the game out after finding themselves tied at 14-14 with little more than a minute left – but Sara Rocha and Martin Petrie registered decisive scores to secure the points.

Highbury were quickly out of the blocks, with the Portuguese Ana Rocha giving her side a 2-0 lead, while Moses Hutchinson-Pascal notched a penalty before Ana Rocha claimed an early hat-trick.

Nomads rallied, getting three unanswered goals to level at 4-4 – but Ana Rocha restored the lead, and Joanna Faure Walker and Niccola Hyslop then struck, while Ana Rocha got her fifth of the game to leave Highbury 8-7 up at the break.

The second half proved to be a tight affair, with no more than one goal separating the sides until the final minute.

Nomads equalised immediately after the restart, which started a goal trade. Matt Dodds, Faure Walker and substitute Sara Rocha registered for the home side but they could not escape as the score moved to 11-11.

Marrit Nijmeijer put Highbury back into the lead, but it was short-lived as Nomads hit back with a double, leaving the hosts behind for the first time.

Substitute Sara Rocha equalised before Nijmeijer gave Highbury the advantage, but they were pegged back once again at 14-14 with time quickly running out.

Sara Rocha was then given a pressure penalty, and she scored to complete her hat-trick. Highbury had to hang on for one minute – and Petrie gave them a two-goal cushion in the dying seconds.

Highbury move up to second in the table, just one point off the leaders Bec II.