ROSS Juniors men fired a magnificent seven in a 12-goal thriller away to Blakeney to keep their North Gloucestershire One promotion hopes alive.

Kieran Young cracked four goals, with Florin Crainic, Louis Trotman and Sam Thorne also on target in Saturday's 7-5 win, leaving them fourth two points behind second-placed Soudley with a game in hand, although Whitecroft in third have four games in hand.

Newent Town lost 2-1 at Cheltenham Saracens in midweek, Toby Moran firing the Daffs in front after just three minutes, but the hosts volleying an equaliser from six yards on 18 minutes.

A melee on the touchline saw a red card for a Saracens member of their bench, before a Cheltenham strike from outside the box proved the winner with 15 minutes to play, either side of Newent hitting the bar and the post.

The Daffs Development also missed out in the quarter-final of the Bateman Sports Two President’s Cup at the weekend, losing 4-0 at home to Gloucester City Dev.

Ruardean Hill also lost 2-1 at Broadwell Amateurs in a Gloucestershire County Forest midweek derby.

Howle Hill's promotion hopes – with just the one win from 10 games in NG Premier - took another blow with a 3-3 home draw against lowly Ellwood, Joe Thomas with a brace and Chris Baverstock the other goal, leaving them third six points behind top side Bream.

Division rivals Huntley also drew 3-3 at home to Milkwall, but Ruardean Hill 2nds lost out 3-0 at home to Westbury.

Other results saw Mitcheldean 2nds lose 5-0 to visitors Yorkley, Ruardean United go down 6-3 at home to Mushet 2nds, and Longhope lose out 3-2 away to Sling.

Lydbrook host Staunton on Thursday night, while Newent Dev host Cinderford Dev on Friday.

Fixtures this Saturday include – Ross Juniors v Blakeney, Newent v Stratford, Ruardean Hill v Hanham, Lydbrook 2nds v Whitecroft, Ellwood v Ruardean Hill 2nds, Yorkley v Ruardean Utd, Staunton A v Lydbrook A.