NEWENT Town talisman Tyler Weir finally returned to action after a 16-month injury lay off on Saturday, as the Daffs fought out a 1-1 Wildsmith Meadow draw with Alcester.

The Romans went in front around the quarter-hour mark through a James Lev goal, and reached half-time 1-0 up.

But Newent piled on the pressure after the break, sending a shot just over the bar and another narrowly wide of the post before the long-awaited return off the bench of Weir, who tore his cruciate ligament in November 2024.

And with 10 minutes left, Sam Judge bundled his way through a posse of players before skipper for the day George Brand applied the finishing touch to level.

The Daffs pushed forward looking for the winner and Judge thought he'd scored only for a brilliant save.

A penalty appeal was also waved away, and with Weir now wearing the captain's armband, the ref blew for time with the points shared.

The draw leaves the Daffs sixth in Hellenic League One, one place outside the play-off zone, but attention this Saturday afternoon (March 14) switches to the UHL Supplementary Cup and a home semi-final against Banbury United Development.

Elsewhere, Ruardean Hill suffered a tight 2-1 home loss to Gloucestershire League title chasers Filton, leaving Rangers just one point above the drop zone.

Hill made a flying start, as Fin Jones was taken out for a penalty kick after Steve Clark hit the post, with the latter converting for 1-0 on 10 minutes.

Ruardean were dominating, but then let Filton level via a mistake at the back, Freddie Fraser slotting home.

And on 41 minutes a long ball forward saw Trey Merrett lob a stranded Aaron Underwood in the Ruardean goal for 1-2.

Filton went down to ten men early in the second half with a sin-binning and on 55 minutes a well-worked Hill move saw Alex Stephens shoot just wide from the edge of the box.

Twenty minutes from time another great move saw the ball squared to Clark who flashed a shot past the post.

And although Filton’s Kyle Thomas then saw red with 10 minutes to play, Hill couldn't make the extra man pay.

Lydbrook Athletic won the Gloucestershire Northern 2 Forest derby 3-0 at bottom side Mitcheldean, thanks to goals from Daryl Addis, James Matthews and Jayden Tribbick, lifting them to ninth.

A Richard May brace also fired Longhope to a 2-1 North Gloucestershire Premier home win over Soudley.

But division rivals Huntley and Howle Hill both lost out at home in the quarter-finals of the JO Roberts Cup, the former downed 3-1 by Woolaston, Harry Clark with the consolation, and the latter 2-0 by Broadwell 2nds.

In NG1, basement boys Ruardean United battled hard before losing 2-1 away to leaders Staunton & Corse 2nds, Josh Street their scorer, while Mitcheldean 2nds also lost 4-0 away to Bream 2nds in NG2.

Ruardean Hill A won 3-0 away to English Bicknor 2nds in NG3 though, Lee Johnson, Jack Knight and Stu Cornell on target.

But Ross Juniors Women suffered a tough Sunday afternoon, losing 8-0 at home to runaway Mid West Counties leaders Evesham United.