WELLINGTON Rangers maintained their challenge for honours in the Hereford Times Hereford-shire League Premier Division with a crushing 8-0 home victory over Weston.

Central midfielder Eddie Wells was the star of Wellington's emphatic triumph, snapping up four goals in an outstanding individual display.

The match was littered with poor challenges and the pattern was determined after only 15 minutes when Weston had two players sent off following an ugly off-the-ball incident.

A Weston player reacted to a challenge from the experienced Guy Tobin and when order was restored, following a melee involving several players, Tobin was booked for retaliation and two visiting players received their marching orders.

The youthful Wellington outfit immediately made their two-man advantage count and opened the scoring through centre-half Sam Lloyd who tapped home from two yards after a corner.

As the game wore on, Weston defended bravely and Wellington struggled to create chances until manager Richard Vale switched to a more attacking formation and introduced defender Lee Preece, striker Andy Sherlock and Ross McMillan.

The move paid dividends with 35 minutes remaining when man-of-the-match Wells doubled Wellington's lead, converting a penalty after Rob Parsons had been hauled down.

Parsons then extended Wellington's advantage when he outpaced the Weston defence and slotted the ball past the out-rushing goalkeeper before Wells made it 4-0 by hammering home a free-kick.

Wellington continued to dominate and McMillan scored their fifth, reacting quickly after the goalkeeper had parried his initial shot, and Sherlock made it 6-0 when he connected with an excellent cross from Weston Holder.

Wells completed his hat-trick and rounded off the scoring when, with his back to goal, he flipped a pass from Holder over his head to wrong-foot a Weston defender and turned to drill an unstoppable half-volley into the net.

Meanwhile, Woofferton Reserves collected their fourth win of the season in Division 1 by beating higher-placed Pencombe 3-0.

Woofferton wrapped up victory before the interval, scoring three times in an entertaining, end-to-end first half.

Woofferton broke the deadlock when a cross from Timmy Davies was knocked on by Harry Harrington for Justin Wheately to tap home.

Harrington doubled Woofferton's lead soon after when he dribbled past two Pencombe defenders before scoring from an acute angle and then Davies sealed the points when his shot hit a divot and bounced over the helpless visiting goalkeeper.

Shobdon extended their lead at the top of Division 2 to six points after a crushing 6-1 away win over Wellington Colts. Alan Stocker (2), Joe Liqourish (2), Jason Powell and Nigel Pritchard scored their goals.

Lowly Burghill secured an important 2-1 away triumph over fellow strugglers Dorstone.