CLEE Hill boss Wayne Whitbread insists his side are not yet Herefordshire Premier title favourites despite cutting the gap to leaders Wellington Reserves to five points with three games in hand.

A Josh Carpenter hat-trick – taking his season’s tally to 41 – gave United a 3-1 win at fourth-placed Ledbury Town.

Charlie Edwards and James Clifford also hit the woodwork for Hill, who host two of the bottom five – Tenbury United this Saturday and Kingstone Rovers a week later – next up.

But Whitbread warned: “While it looks well in sight now, it’s too far away to call us favourites - seven games is a lot still to play so there’s much to do even now.

“But I couldn’t have asked any more of the lads in closing down this gap, everyone has stepped up and performed.”

Elsewhere, Orleton lost 4-1 at Shobdon in Herefordshire One with Sam Thomas getting their goal, while Orleton Reserves drew 3-3 with Bromyard Downs in Division Two.