STORM Darragh blew its worst at the weekend, devastating the football programme.

But Ross Juniors Women were able to beat the weather and their hosts Droitwich Spa in an 8-1 show of force on Sunday.

The gale force wind and icy rain made things difficult, but some good passing in the tough conditions brought the breakthrough 21 minutes in, when some fine link-up play between Millie Malsom and Lauren Creed found Holly Thomas whose shot crept over the line for 1-0.

Droitwich kept up an aggressive press and were causing Ross to play quick-flowing football.

But when Macy Walker found Malsom on 27 minutes, her cross picked out Creed whose clinical finish made it 2-0.

The visitors were now playing with confidence and added two more goals through Creed again on 37 minutes and Hollie Mace on the stroke of half-time with a brilliant strike for 4-0.

Ross (sponsored by 21Wellbeing, HP Scaffolding Ltd, The Hope and Anchor and Pronto’s Pizza Kebab) made two changes during the break, Mica Walker and Amelia Seal entering the fray for Meg Boardman and Creed.

Seal made an instant impact when on 50 minutes she latched on to a Thomas pass and fired home for 5-0.

But five minutes later, Juniors got a wake-up call when they failed to deal with a corner and conceded for 5-1.

They bounced back to make it 6-1 within eight minutes though, Seal persisting in her press and robbing the keeper before tapping home.

Ross were now relentless and a great move of 14 passes on 75 minutes was cut back to Keira Brain, who hit an 18-yard strike into the corner for 7-1.

And the scoring was rounded off on 88 minutes, when another fine passing move saw the ball cut back to Walker, who finished well with her left foot into the corner from the edge of the box.

The result leaves Juniors Women level on points in a four-way tie at the top of the Mid West Counties League with Hereford FC, Kingfisher and Redditch Borough, though Hereford have two games in hand.

In virtually the only other senior game to survive the weekend, Newent Town Development's men belied their pointless position at the bottom of Hellenic 2 West with a battling 3-2 loss at top-half Gloucester Development on Saturday, Nicholas Jones and Solomon Osinuga their first half scorers.

Their 1st XI played in midweek in the GFA Challenge Trophy, losing 3-1 at Wildsmith Meadow to Fairford.

Ross Juniors' home match with local rivals Longhope this Saturday (December 14) is in doubt owing to the Sports Ground flooding at the weekend for the third time this season.

A club spokesperson posted: "No football pre Xmas and it is now becoming far too frequent. Surely a 4G surface away from the river is needed in Ross."

But other fixtures include – Newent Town v Wellington Town, Ruardean Hill Rangers v Totterdown United, Frampton United v Lydbrook Athletic, Ellwood v Huntley, Howle Hill v Mitcheldean (Weston-under-Penyard), Lydney Town A v Ruardean Hill 2nds, Lydbrook 2nds v Woolaston 2nds, Lydney Town B v Ruardean Utd, Mitcheldean 2nds v Soudley 2nds, Rank 2nds v Lydbrook Athletic A, Ruardean Hill A v Westbury Utd 2nds.

Ross Juniors Women are away to Welland on Sunday afternoon (December 15), while their Ladies team visit Westfields the same afternoon.