ROSS Juniors men are in seventh heaven after beating derby rival hosts Ruardean Hill Rangers A 7-0 to stay top of North Gloucestershire Division Two.

Basement boys Ruardean had no answer to Juniors’ strike force, despite Ross missing several players, who led 3-0 at the break before adding another four unanswered goals in the second half.

Carl Roberts and Pepe Marinache were ruled out by injury, while three others were sidelined by suspensions, meaning Juniors had to dig deep into the depth of their squad.

But Ross started brightly, creating good chances foiled early on by the Ruardean keeper before Ben Scotford made the breakthrough on 20 minutes.

He doubled the lead just minutes later, and when Callum Trotman set up Ted Heyes to make it 3-0, Juniors were well in control.

The visitors again came out firing after the break and Florin Crainic added a fourth after being set up by Louis Trotman.

A relentless Ross looked to add more goals and did so with Heyes getting his second for 5-0, before Sam Mayer headed in a corner to make it six, and Crainic with his second made it a magnificent seven to round off a fine performance.

Ross now sit top on goal difference from Bream Amateurs 2nds with two games in hand.

And they can strengthen their position in another derby at Ross Sports Ground this Saturday (November 19, kick-off 2pm) against third-placed Longhope, who didn’t play at the weekend but are three points behind the leading duo.

A goal right on the stroke of half-time by Saul Thomas put Newent Town 1-0 up at home to Moreton Rangers on Friday night in Hellenic League Division One, dinking it over a defender’s head before walloping it into the back of the net.

But Rangers hit back in the 70th minute and some inspired goalkeeping denied the Daffs all three points.

It was a busy week for Newent, with the game coming just 48 hours after a home clash with Western League Premier outfit Cadbury Heath in the Gloucestershire County Cup (Challenge Trophy).

The visitors went 1-0 up after the ball bounced in off the post before half-time and secured victory with a second goal just after the restart which wrong-footed the Daffs’ keeper.

Ruardean Hill Rangers lost out 3-0 to Little Stoke at home on Saturday in the Gloucestershire County League, with the visitors taking the lead in first-half injury time through a left-footed shot.

A red card for two yellows reduced Hill to 10 men on 80 minutes, and it was 2-0 within two minutes before a third followed from a header, with only the bar saving Hill from a long-range shot and a heavier defeat in the final minute.

Mike Donaldson and Nathan Green filled their boots with four goals apiece for North Gloucestershire Premier leaders Lydbrook Athletic as they battered pointless basement boys Blakeney 12-1.

James Matthews also scored a brace and David Tookey and Ryan Wilks one apiece.

Braces for Jack Lewis and Joe Thomas helped Howle Hill to a 5-0 win away to Harrow Hill 2nds to go sixth, with Ben Fletcher adding the extra.

And Ruardean Hill 2nds secured a 3-3 draw away to Broadwell Amateurs A to stay away from the drop zone.

Division One leaders Mitcheldean were 3-1 winners away to Woolaston 2nds, Adam Beaumont, Ben Bennett and Sam Dowle their marksmen.

Their 2nds also won 2-1 at home to Redbrook Rovers 2nds in Division 3, Tom Goulding and Tyler Kibble on target.

And Ruardean United were 8-3 home winners over Harrow Hill A, Ben Peake firing a hat-trick backed by goals from Oliver Cook, Wesley Hathaway, Josh Street and David Williams.

Fixtures this Saturday (November 19) include – Ross Juniors v Longhope, Pershore Town v Newent Town, Newent Town Dev v Feckenham, Coppertops v Fownhope, Henbury v Ruardean Hill Rangers, Howle Hill v Ellwood (Weston-under-Penyard Playing Fields), Lydbrook Athletic v Huntley, Ruardean Hill Rangers 2nds v Westbury Utd, Redbrook Rovers v Mitcheldean, Soudley 2nds v Ruardean Hill Rangers A, Viney St Swithins 2nds v Lydbrook Athletic 2nds, Harrow Hill A v Lydbrook Athletic A, Ruardean United v Staunton & Corse A.