BRAGGING rights again went the way of Clee Hill United as they continued their derby dominance over Brown Clee in the Sportsjam Mercian League Spring Cup.

Wayne Whitbread’s men made it a hat-trick of victories over their hapless near neighbours this season by repeating their 5-1 league victory at Hall Meadow back in August.

Conditions were bad enough for the referee to briefly halt the game but United battled against the gale in the first half to lead with a goal from Adam Warren.

Toby Siviter levelled early in the second half but United soon re-established control, a Craig Shorter header restoring their lead and Liam Whitbread poaching a third.

Whitbread turned the screw by conjuring up the pick of the goals with a darting run to dummy the Brown Clee goalkeeper before Warren added a superb fifth from the edge of the box.

United boss Whitbread said:?“We were down to the bare bones of 11 available players so it was a very pleasing result.”

Bishop’s Castle Town were beaten 4-2 at Gobowen Celtic in the same competition, but Newcastle, who meet Castle this Sunday in the semi-finals of the Newcastle Cup, enjoyed a 3-0 away day victory at Talgarth in the Mid Wales League South.

They travelled without a recognised goalkeeper and did well to protect stand-in custodian Scott Oxford during a goalless first half in dreadful conditions.

Newcastle finally broke the deadlock when a Carl Price cross was headed in by Tom Bright and they doubled their lead when Bright swooped to add his second by bundling in a Craig Morris cross.

Skipper Jimmy Thomas, who was once again superb, put the icing on the cake when he added the third with a looping shot.

Newcastle substitute Rodri Jones, whose campaign has been blighted by injury, showed some decent touches and he could still play an important part in the remainder of the season.

In the Herefordshire League, Woofferton’s Division One title hopes met with a setback in a surprise 5-1 reverse at Wellington Colts while Orleton Colts bowed out of the Clubsport Club with a 2-1 quarter-final defeat at Fownhope, Martyn Jones accounting for their goal.

But it was a better day for Colts Reserves, who finished thrilling 5-4 extra-time winners at Hinton Reserves in a real epic to book their place in the final of the HJ?Handley Cup, where they will meet Wellington Colts. Chris Albert’s men trailed 2-0 and then 3-2, but Connor Bufton made it 3-3 at the end of 90 minutes and with the score tied up at 4-4 in the extra half an hour, Albert played in David Davies to win it.

Liam Watton (2) and Kieron Powys scored the other Orleton goals.