Hill on Cloud 9 as Hinton hammered in the cup

HOWLE Hill were on Cloud 9 as they hammered Hinton 9-0 in the Herefordshire Junior Cup at their Weston-under-Penyard ground on Saturday.

The North Gloucestershire Premier leaders were six goals to the good by half-time and added three more after the break to ease through to the next round.

Joe Thomas and Ben Fletcher both fired braces in the goal fest, backed by strikes from Sam Thorne, Alfie Williams, Youness Ouardi, James Blackwell and Jack Clark.

Fownhope also went through with a 5-1 win at home to Westfields 2nds, Josh Hunt firing a brace backed by strikes from Brandon Jennings, Jack Marlow and Jamie Price.

Newent Town bowed out of the Hellenic League Cup 3-0 at home to Ludlow on Saturday, as no less than five of their U18s who came through the club pathway were called up to the match day squad.

The Daffs had a couple of early chances, but Jack Marston put the Shropshire visitors in front on 28 minutes with a simple tap in for 1-0, which was the difference between the two at half-time.

Deondre Edmund replaced Nat Gourlay for his debut after the break as Newent pressed for a leveller.

But just as it seemed only a matter of time before an equaliser, the Daffs were hit by a punch on 70 minutes, with Ludlow breaking and Charlie Edwards doubling their lead, before a third on 80 minutes from Nathan Weale finished the Newent challenge off.

The two sides met again at Wildsmith Meadow on Tuesday night in league action, and this time the Daffs stormed into a 2-0 lead before being pegged back with two goals in the dying moments and drawing 2-2.

Kirk Layton with a strike from a corner put Newent in front after seven minutes, and the lead was doubled 10 minutes into the second half when a corner was only half cleared and the ball whipped back in for Jack Knott to head home.

Marooned in the bottom two, Newent really needed all three points, but Ludlow pulled one back three minutes from time just after their keeper had made a superb one-handed save at the other end.

And then deep into stoppage time, Ludlow were awarded a penalty which they converted to break Newent hearts, although the point saw the hosts climb out of the drop zone on goal difference.

Meanwhile in Bristol, Ruardean Hill Rangers eased their Gloucestershire League worries with a second win in a row 1-0 away to basement side Totterdown.

The hosts had the ball in the net early on, but the goal was flagged for offside.

And when Ruardean broke down the left in the second half, a host defender hauled down an attacker in the box, resulting in a penalty which Ollie Mason converted.

Lydbrook Athletic also secured a 3-1 Gloucestershire Northern 2 win away to Frampton 2nds, super sub Jermaine Kijuu with a brace and Benedict Harris one.

And table mates Huntley also won 1-0 at home to Painswick, Kain Goodall the match winner.

But Mitcheldean were walloped 9-3 at home by Woolaston in the JO Roberts Cup, Hayden Burford with a brace and fellow sub Connor Dix with the other consolation, while Longhope also went out 1-0 at home to Ellwood.

Ruardean Hill 2nds were in seventh heaven as they knocked visitors Lydney Town B out of the George Sandoe Cup 7-2, Chad Burrows, Alfie Nicholls, Jaime Horsfall, Andrew Coleman, Jayden Jones and Ryan Shinners on the scoresheet.

In league action, North Gloucestershire 1 leaders Lydbrook 2nds were held to a 1-1 draw away to mid-table Harrow Hill A, Jon Tookey with their goal, but still sit five points clear at the top.

And braces from Toby Holden and Jay Knight saw their A side to a 4-0 NG2 win over Westbury United 2nds.

A hat-trick from Jordan Wayman and one from Fred Moir helped Ruardean United 2nds to a 4-2 NG3 home win over Harrow Hill B.

But Longhope 2nds were lashed 6-1 away to Staunton & Corse 2nds.