LUKE Pugh bagged his first hat-trick of the season as Woofferton moved level on points with Holme Lacy at the head of the Herefordshire League Division One table.

His treble fronted a 5-0 stroll at Kingstone Harriers as Woofferton made it five wins in seven starts.

Jack Pound opening the scoring, reacting first after an Ady Marsh header was saved by the Harriers keeper to smack the ball home.

Pugh then scored twice in ten minutes, with the second coming after a superb switch of play. Si Bradley had the ball on the left and played it infield for Marian Jusko, who waited for the overlapping Pugh. A perfect pass invited Pugh to blast a vicious shot past the keeper.

After half-time Pugh completed his hat-trick after being put through by Paul Nash and Jusko also got on the scoresheet, beating two defenders and the keeper to slot the ball into an empty net.

“Confidence is high at the moment and we'll take that in to our next fixture against Tupsley this weekend,'' said Woofferton spokesman Dave 'Mag' Thomas.

Orleton Colts had Kyle Whitticase sent off as they were beaten 3-0 at reigning champions Ewyas Harold in the Premier Division, while Liam Watton’s hat-trick proved in vain for Orleton Colts Reserves as they suffered a fifth defeat on the spin in Division One.

Watton made it ten goals in nine games but Orleton were never in front against Fownhope Reserves and were beaten 6-4.

Boss Chris Albert said: “We are playing well but not getting the results. Things just don’t seem to be going for us.”

Watton’s first was palmed in by the visiting goalkeeper to cancel out Fownhope’s opener, and he then popped one into the top corner to level things up a second time.

Orleton then fell 5-2 behind before Albert made some changes - one of which was to bring himself on - and goals from Alan Hopcutt and Watton again pulled it back to 5-4.

Fownhope looked panicky but they quickly steadied their nerves with a killer sixth goal.

Bishop’s Castle Town progressed in the Shropshire Challenge Cup with with a 4-1 home win over depleted Highley Miners Welfare, but Church Stretton bowed out, beaten 2-1 at home by FC Hodnet.

Highley started with only ten men at Bishop’s Castle, who went ahead through Niall Thomas. They were up to full strength before they levelled, but Castle won it with second half strikes from Mark Greenwood, Sam Jones with the goal of the game after a great solo run, and substitute Nathan Davies.

Sean Gough netted for Church Stretton, but a tight game saw Hodnet go through by the odd goal in three. Stretton boss Paul Smith said: “We were without several players but they will be back this weekend when we meet Hodnet again in the league - and we feel we can beat them.”

Newcastle’s scheduled trip to Knighton Reserves in the Mid Wales League South was called off at the home club’s request as their first team were involved in the second round of the Welsh Cup, where they lost 6-3 to Holywell Town.