BEN SCOTFORD hit a magnificent seven goals as Ross Juniors left Sports Ground visitors Viney St Swithins 2nds without a prayer in an 11-0 walloping on Saturday.

Indeed, Juniors led 7-0 at the break and could have had more, as they strengthened their goal difference at the top of North Gloucestershire Division Two.

Ross, pictured right, showed great composure from minute one and played some lovely free-flowing football that pulled their opponents all over the pitch with many switches of play.

The hosts continually found gaps to play through as the goals started flowing.

Ross got another two early goals after the break, and then made some changes, which momentarily slowed the goal rush before two more were added.

It was a dominant and ruthless performance that will have basement boys Soudley 2nds worried ahead of this Saturday’s meeting (December 3).

As well as Scotford’s magnificent seven, Luke Darwin also hit a brace, with one apiece from Brad Preece and Ted Heyes.

But incredibly, title rivals Longhope – who held Juniors to a 2-2 derby draw in Ross the previous week – matched them on the goal rampage, blasting hosts Milkwall 2nds 11-2.

Patrick Cuthbert scored five and Jamie Baker a hat-trick, with Josh Goulding firing a brace and sub Sam Hurst the other goal.

Victory leaves Juniors three points clear of Longhope, who are second on goal difference from Lydney Town B and Bream Amateurs 2nds, in what is to date a tight title race, with Lydbrook 2nds and Mushet & Coalway 2nds a further point back.

Newent Town travelled to Oxfordshire to take on Clanfield 85 in Hellenic League Division One, but lost 3-0 after two late goals.

Clanfield went in front on 21 minutes after a well-worked move on the left saw a low cross slotted home.

Jack Jeremiah got on the end of a great cross and forced a good save from the hosts’ keeper as the Daffs pushed back, before a curling left-foot shot from Frank Pemberton went over the bar.

Newent keeper Jacob Iley then moved smartly to halt the Clanfield frontman in a one-on-one just before the break as the half ended 1-0.

Skipper Tyler Weir dragged a shot just wide after a good Daffs move with 16 minutes to play as Newent pushed for a late leveller.

But two minutes later the hosts hit them on the break to make it 2-0, and it was three moments after that thanks to another smart counter-attack.

Newent Development also went down, 4-0 at home to Cheltenham Saracens Development In Hellenic Two West.

And Fownhope lost out 3-1 away to Gloucester City U21s in the Herefordshire Premier Division, leaving the village outfit 10th.

But Ruardean Hill Rangers took a point from a 1-1 home draw with Cheltenham Civil Service in the Gloucestershire County League, the hosts taking the lead on 40 minutes through Shaun Tingle who headed home after good work by Alex Stephens.

Service playing with the wind in the second half equalised on 55 minutes from a short corner which was worked to the edge of the box, the resulting shot parried by Hill keeper Aaron Underwood, before Brett Blake knocked in the rebound.

North Gloucestershire Premier Division table-toppers Lydbrook Athletic lost 3-2 at home to Stroud and District League Wotton-under-Edge outfit Wickwar Wanderers in the Gloucestershire Junior Cup, Henry McAllister and Aaron Powell with the hosts’ goals.

While they took a weekend off from league action, a Ben Fletcher brace helped Howle Hill to a 2-1 home win over Milkwall to leapfrog their opponents to fourth.

Huntley saw a 2-1 half-time lead slip at Bream Amateurs though, as they lost 3-2 to stay sixth, Callum Love and Alfie Sheppard their scorers.

Division One high-flyers Mitcheldean were in Intermediate Cup action, running out 4-3 home winners over Rodborough and Cainscross Old Boys 2nds.

Goals from Dewi Stuart and Finn Winstanley secured a 2-2 draw for Lydbrook 2nds at home to Bream 2nds in Division 2.

And in Division 3, Mitcheldean 2nds and Ruardean United benefited from walkovers thanks to Harrow Hill A and Lydbrook A being unable to honour the fixtures.

Newent Town host Milton United this Friday night (December 2) in Hellenic League One, kick-off 7.45pm.

Fixtures this Saturday (December 3) include – Ross Juniors A v Soudley 2nds, Welland v Fownhope, Shipston Excelsior v Newent Town Dev, Ruardean Hill Rangers v Sharpness, Ruardean Hill Rangers 2nds v Longlevens Dev, Longhope v Lydney Town B, Ruardean Hill Rangers A v Bream Amts 2nd, Mitcheldean 2nds v Pittville Utd 2nds, Ruardean Utd v Ramblers, Lydbrook Athletic A v Blakeney 2nds.