NEWENT Town followed a 0-0 midweek home draw with top-half Stonehouse with a battling show at top-four FC Stratford before going down 2-1.

They remain mired in a Hellenic One relegation battle eight points from safety, but if they can turn their recent form into points against lower opponents, they still have the chance of pulling off a great escape.

Robbie Sone put the Bears in front on 27 minutes, and despite the hosts being down to 10 men after a second yellow for nearly all of the second half, a Jacob Williams effort 10 minutes from time denied the Daffs, who scored a consolation through sub Kyle Taylor.

But Newent’s Development team came back from 3-0 down at half-time at home to Pershore 88 Dev to draw 3-3, Billy Osemwengie firing a brace and Christiano Ascencao also on target – their first point in 10 games in Hellenic 2 West.

Elsewhere, Ross Juniors were hit for six at home to North Gloucestershire Premier leaders Westbury in the JO Roberts Cup, Kieran Young with the consolation.

But Ruardean Hill walloped high-flying Wick by the same score in the Gloucestershire League, Tom Landon scoring from Steve Clark’s cross early on, and Clark firing a second after a mazy run from Oli Mason.

Fin Jones intercepted a misplaced pass to fire into the top corner on 40 minutes for 3-0 before a rare Wick foray pulled a goal back just before the break.

Hill grabbed their fourth when Clark’s corner was only half cleared, and Max Telling acrobatically scored with an overhead bicycle kick.

Kane Fellows then fired in from distance for the fifth, and five became six after Clark rounded the keeper, the win leaving Hill eighth.

Lydbrook drew 2-2 at home to Berkeley to stay fifth in Gloucestershire Northern 2, but high-flying NGP outfit Mitcheldean came a cropper in the JO Roberts Cup, crashing out 7-3 away to basement battlers Broadwell Amateurs 2nds, Adam Beaumont, Charlie Meek and Damian Jones with the consolations.

Huntley also went out of the Gloucestershire Junior Cup 3-0 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at home to Stroud United, William Freeman and Callum Love with their goals.

A Joe Thomas brace and one from Chris Tookey secured a 3-1 NGP mid-table win for Howle Hill at Milkwall, but bottom side Ruardean Hill 2nds remain winless after a 6-0 walloping at Blakeney.

NG1 leaders Longhope marched on with a 4-1 home win over Yorkley, Daniel Morgan, Richard May, Florin Crainic and Jack Halson their marksmen, but Lydbrook 2nds were beaten 4-0 at home by Redbrook.

Mitcheldean 2nds got the better of the latter's reserves though in NG2, a Connor Dix hat-trick and one from Tyler Kibble firing them to a 4-2 win.

A Harley Green brace and strikes from Ryan Shinners, Freddie Martin, Matthew Cook and Aaron Bennett secured a 6-3 NG3 home win for Ruardean Hill A over English Bicknor 2nds, but Lydbrook A lost out 4-0 away to Staunton & Corse A.

And Ruardean United fell 5-1 at Blockley in the Gloucestershire Minor Cup, Josh Street with the consolation.

Fixtures this Saturday (January 25) include – Newent Town v Redditch Borough, Ross Juniors v Longhope, Ruardean Hill Rangers v Stoke Gifford SGS United, Winchcombe Town v Lydbrook Athletic, Broadwell Amateurs 2nds v Huntley, Lydney Town A v Howle Hill, Mitcheldean v Ellwood, Harrow Hill 2nds v Ruardean Hill 2nds, Ruardean United v Redbrook Rovers, Lydbrook 2nds v Soudley, Mitcheldean 2nds v Mushet & Coalway 2nds, Ruardean Hill A v Rank Outsiders 2nds, Alvington Star v Lydbrook A.

Newent Town also visit Tytherington Rocks on Tuesday night (January 28).