TEN-man Woofferton’s Herefordshire FA Junior Cup dreams were dashed in a 2-1 defeat to lower-league Burghill Rangers on a heavy surface at The Coppice.

Dan Gower went from hero to villain, netting on the hour to equalise for the Blues before being sent off for foul play and Rangers, who sit second Herefordshire Division Two, took full advantage.

Ryan Daw had put the hosts 1-0 up at the break but Gower scored from Tom Ballard’s through ball to restore parity for the Division One outfit.

Daw stepped up to convert a penalty after a sustained spell of Burghill pressure and although Woofferton surged forward in search of another leveller, Dean Harding’s effort, which flashed wide of a post, was as near as they came.

''We were disappointed not to get through,” said Woofferton spokesperson and player Dave Thomas. “Burghill are a good team and we simply didn't put our chances away when in on goal. But that's football and congratulations to them for making the final.”

Elsewhere, Orleton Colts moved up to sixth in the Herefordshire Premier Division with a 3-2 win at Fownhope – their fifth straight league victory.

The run, which kicked off at the start of December, has taken Orleton from within touching distance of the drop zone to fighting for a top-two berth.

It was the only top-flight match to take place in the county league with Tenbury United’s title pursuit put on hold when the weather scotched any hope of play at Pegasus Reserves.

In the Mercian League Premier Division Cup, a double from Dean Richards was in vain as table-toppers Church Stretton bowed out 6-2 at home to Oakengates Athletic. Clee Hill United’s tie at AFC Bridgnorth Reserves was postponed.

Craven Arms Town lost 4-2 at in-form Stoke Heath in Division One, while Brown Clee were another team left kicking their heels thanks to a weekend washout.

A penalty from Mark Griffiths and Martyn Ziemann’s long-range rocket saw Bishop’s Castle Town maintain their 100 per cent Montgomeryshire League record but they were made to work for their 2-1 success at Trewern.

Having halved the deficit after half-time, the hosts threw everything at Castle but it was to no avail.