THREE points were well earned at Welland by Ross Juniors Women on Saturday as they ran out 5-2 winners to go second outright in the Mid West Counties League.
The Worcestershire hosts started brightly and put Ross on the back foot, but Juniors soon imposed themselves, Millie Malsom, Lily Irving and Amelia Seal all going close to scoring.
And on 26 minutes, a clever Macy Walker pass set Malsom through to slot home for 1-0.
Ross then had two goals disallowed before Welland hit back just before the break to make it 1-1.
But nine minutes into the second period, a Keira Brain free-kick missed everyone apart from Malsom who controlled well to fire her second.
Welland levelled again on 63 minutes though, before another disallowed Ross goal.
The visitors' pressure told again however with 15 minutes left when Holly Thomas' through ball saw Malsom drive at goal to fire her hat-trick for 3-2.
And on 82 minutes they hit Welland on the counter when Irving went through to score, and the result was put to bed a minute from time, when Malsom again drove from deep to fire her fourth.
Meanwhile, Juniors Ladies produced a fantastic County Cup quarter-final performance at Westfields to win 3-0 thanks to a Hannah Jenkins hat-trick.
Ross made the breakthrough right on half-time when Jenkins scored with a thunderous shot.
But Westfields put them under tremendous pressure after the break with attack after attack, and it seemed only a matter of time before they equalised.
Ross showed great discipline and grit to deny them until the closing stages, and then in a rare break with six minutes left, a strong run from Danie Ward set up Jenkins to calmly finish for 2-0.
And the same two players then linked up again for Jenkins to fire her third.