HEREFORD Pegasus edged out county rivals Ross Juniors Women with a 3-2 victory in a thrilling Midwest Counties League First Division derby at the KGD Stadium on Sunday.

The hosts enjoyed the better of the opening quarter as Danielle Kingstone had a number of opportunities to break the deadlock, but was unable to take advantage of the chances created.

A Juniors player battles for the ball
A Juniors player battles for the ball (Stuart Townsend)

But Pegasus were rewarded for their early pressure by netting two goals in three minutes midway through the first half.

Ameilia Morris prodded the ball home from close-range after visiting keeper Ruby Wood was unable to hold on to Martha Formby header from a 21st-minute corner.

Scarlett Ratcliffe-Perris was then picked out by a precise through ball three minutes later before breaking into the penalty area to find the back of the net.

Players battle for the ball in the Pegasus v Ross Juniors game
Players battle for the ball in the Pegasus v Ross Juniors game (Stuart Townsend)

Ross Juniors halved the deficit within 60 seconds of the restart, following a swift break down the right flank, when Poppy Baker was on hand at the far post to turn home an initial shot that had been punched away by Emily Mason in the Pegasus goal.

And the visitors were back on level terms when Hollie Mace successfully converted a 33rd -minute penalty awarded by referee Duncan Kings for a trip in the area.

But the decisive goal arrived six minutes after the break when Cleo Tomkinson pounced from close-range, after Lily White's effort from the edge of the penalty area had been parried by Wood, to put the hosts back into a lead they would never relinquish.

Ross Juniors pushed for an equaliser during the remainder of the second half, but were unable to find a way past the Pegasus rearguard, whilst the hosts posed a threat on the break as they searched for a fourth goal.

Elsewhere, unbeaten Newent Town Women stormed to a 4-0 win away to Kingswood to stay top of Gloucestershire Women’s League Division Two after five wins and a draw.

Kate Ambrey put them in front after 10 minutes and sub Freya Warwick doubled the lead on 35 minutes.

Ambrey added her second on 60 minutes and Alisha Kantorowicz completed the scoring with eight minutes to play.

Mitcheldean were 0-0 with Wessex Wanderers for the first half hour in Gloucestershire 3, but the wheels then fell off as the visitors then scored five unanswered goals before half-time and went on to win 8-0.

Ross Juniors Ladies didn’t have a game at the weekend, but host Westfields Ladies in the first round of the Herefordshire Women’s Cup this Sunday, kick-off 2pm.

Newent host Gloucester City Women 2nds in the Gloucestershire Women’s Trophy at Wildsmith Meadow the same afternoon, while table mates Cinderford Ladies, who didn’t play at the weekend, travel to play Cheltenham Civil Service Ladies in the same competition.

Mitcheldean are also away to Bream Amateurs Ladies in the cup, while Ross Juniors Women have the weekend off having a bye in the Herefordshire Cup, and are next in action in the Mid West Counties away to Kingfisher on Sunday, October 25.