Ross Juniors U17 team have had mixed fortunes for their last two games in the Tudors Building Supplies Herefordshire Junior League.

Ross secured a hard fought victory away to the older of two Bartestree sides, before succumbing to the second defeat of the season to the title favourites, Westfields.

Ross benefited from the advantage of playing down the slope at Bartestree, compounded with a strong tail wind. When they found themselves 2-0 up, they knew they had to make the advantage pay before half time. 

Seb Lawson had opened the scoring with a strong header from a floated Adam Davies corner, then Fin Fletcher used his pace to create and score from a tight angle to double the lead.  Davies’ 20 yard low free kick squeezed in between the goalie and the post to make it three, before Bartestree scored from a rare attack. 

Max Jennings and Finn Mudie-Jones controlled the midfield well.  Ollie Lloyd caused the defense problems on the Ross right wing, leading to a second from Lawson, so a three goal cushion was re-established.

Bartestree improved in the second half, sending many long balls towards Ethan Lerego’s goal. Ethan pulled off a superb one-handed save defecting the ball onto his own bar before having the presence of mind to smother the re-bound before the oncoming attackers.  Ross had many more chances, but could not convert a fifth goal, and despite a good team defence, they conceded twice, including one penalty, holding on for an excellent 4-3 win.

On January 27th, Mark Fletcher took his side to the home of Westfields, where again a biting wind was to play a part.  Captain, Joe Thomas, lost the toss, so knew his team would be facing a strong Fields team as well as the conditions for the first forty minutes. 

Ross defended manfully again, Jonno Wright and Tom Hassan, as usual to the fore in the centre, with good contributions from Ben Fletcher and Alfie Robinson on the flanks.  Ross found themselves 2-0 down after one long range effort followed by a much disputed penalty which which Lerego had no chance of saving. 

Although the Ross midfield competed with more effect, the home goalkeeper could not be put under enough pressure. A late rebound from a fine Lerego save made the final score 3-0. Tony Fletcher praised the Westfield players, but felt it would have been a different game but for the two unfortunate first half goals.