A GOAL five minutes into the second half by Kieran Young rocketed Ross Juniors Colts into the final of the Ross Cup on Saturday.

The North Gloucestershire Division 3 side entertained Herefordshire League Division Two outfit Credenhill in the semi-final at the Sports Ground, and the first half proved a period of few chances for either side in the warm conditions.

But Ross upped the tempo straight after the break and scored in the 50th minute after a fine move that was finished well by Young.

Ross continued to dominate and create chances but couldn’t find the second goal before the ref’s whistle secured a cup final against Burghill Rangers on Easter Monday.

Meanwhile, Fownhope went back to the top of Herefordshire League Division One with a 4-1 home win over Civil Service thanks to goals from Joseph Harwood, Sam Lewis, Ben Price and Harvey Vaughan.

The result lifts the Wyeside village side two points above Worcester United, whose game was postponed at the weekend but have two games in hand.

Juniors 1st XI didn’t play either and stay fifth 11 points behind Fownhope with three games in hand.

Newent Town had two contrasting 4-3 results in two days, starting with a win in their last Hellenic League Division One home game of the season at Wildsmith Meadow on Saturday over top-half Milton United.

Hotshot Jordan Cooper was on fire hitting a hat-trick, with two goals in the first 20 minutes for a 2-0 lead before the visitors pegged it back to 2-1 at the break.

Milton drew level with 13 minutes left, only for ‘Coops’ to secure his third on 81 minutes followed by a fourth from Matt Evans with five minutes to play.

Milton made it 4-3 almost immediately, before a goal line clearance denied Cooper another right at the end of normal time, with the Daffs holding out for all three points.

Monday night saw them in action again at home to Tuffley Rovers in the Bluefin Challenge Cup, and after it was locked 1-1 at full-time, Cooper levelling the visitors’ early opener after half an hour, the tie went to penalties.

But this time Tuffley took the win, 4-3 on spot kicks.

Newent 2nds were also in Chairman’s Cup cup action, but were hit for six without reply on Saturday away to Cheltenham Development.

Ruardean Hill Rangers held second-placed visitors Wick to a 0-0 draw in the Gloucestershire County League, with host keeper Aaron Underwood proving unbeatable behind a solid defence.

Wick had a great chance to go in front on 60 minutes, but Ben Harris’ powerful shot was beaten away by the stopper before he saved well with his legs from a Ben Weaver drive.

And he pulled off another three fantastic saves in the final minutes to keep Wick at bay in an excellent man-of-the-match performance.

Lydbrook lost out 3-0 at home to third-placed FC Lakeside in Gloucestershire Northern Division 2, leaving them four points adrift at the bottom, but will be hoping for better luck tonight (Wednesday, March 30) away to Stonehouse Town 2nds.

Staunton & Corse also lost 2-0 at fourth-placed Falcons and stay 10th.

But high-flying Huntley ran out 3-1 winners away to Ruardean Hill Rangers 2nds to stay second in the North Gloucestershire Premier Division, thanks to strikes from Will Freeman, Marc Matthews and Dwane Morris, with Alfie Jayne slotting the consolation.

Howle Hill lost out, however, 1-0 at home to mid-table Harrow Hill 2nds at Weston Fields, and stay third from bottom.

Division One basement boys Lydbrook Athletic 2nds had a morale-boosting 4-0 home win to close the gap on visitors Rank Outsiders to one point, Steve Baldwin, Nathan Green, Ryan Wilkes and Ed Hayes hitting the target.

A Mark Grizzell goal wasn’t enough to prevent a 2-1 home defeat to Milkwall for Staunton & Corse, though.

But third-placed Mitcheldean hit a magnificent seven at Bream Amateurs 2nds in the George Sandoe Cup, Adam Beaumont firing a hat-trick, Toby Fox a brace and Damon Beaumont and Sam Dowle one apiece as the hosts could only manage the one reply.

And while Weston led hosts Rank Outsiders 2nds just 1-0 at half-time in the FJ Pope Cup, they then ran away with it to win 6-0.

Fixtures this Saturday include – Civil Service v Ross Juniors 1st XI, Ross Juniors Colts v Staunton & Corse A, Tenbury United v Fownhope, Fownhope 2nds v Worcester United 2nds, Ruardean Hill Rangers v Little Stoke, Staunton & Corse v Smiths Barometrics, Falcons v Lydbrook Athletic, Broadwell Amts A v Howle Hill, Bream Amts v Huntley, Soudley v Ruardean Hill Rangers 2nds, Yorkley v Mitcheldean, Lydbrook Ath 2nds v Woolaston 2nds, Lydney Town B v Lydbrook Ath A, Mitcheldean 2nds v Sling, Rank Outsiders 2nds v Harrow Hill A.