Leominster stepped up their bid for promotion from the West Clubs' Women's League Severn Division 1 with a fine 3-0 win over visiting Cirencester which reinforced their third place in the table.

With second-placed Yate & South Gloucestershire 2nd held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Dursley, the North Herefordshire club are trailing their rivals by just two points with four games left to play.

Leominster made a confident start and took the lead when a perfect pass from Carolyne Hughes played in Karen Hackley who shot home from the top of the D.

Further Leominster pressure paid off just minutes later when Hackley scored her second goal.

Cirencester rallied after this but excellent work by sweeper Eve Van Hassel and some good saves by goalkeeper Heather Williams ensured that the Leominster lead remained intact.

In the second period Kate Holder took the ball from one defender and then beat another to shoot home the third goal.

But in the closing stages Leominster suffered a setback when an injury to Williams forced the goalkeeper off the field, although Megan Rutty deputised confidently between the posts.

Leominster travel to county rivals Colwall on Saturday when a win would be sufficient for the home side, who are 10 points clear at the top, to clinch the title.

Colwall maintained their excellent run of form with a 2-0 success against bottom-club Stroud.

Colwall's third successive win was secured thanks to goals from Lucy Halligan and Nicky Glover.

A dubious late goal cost Hereford a share of the points when the city side went down 2-1 at home to Bretforton 2nd.

But Hereford did little to help their cause by missing a host of chances.

Bretforton took the lead in the first period but Hereford then began to gain control through midfielders Gemma Stevens and Clare Butler and hit back to equalise through Pippa Cardy following a short corner.

As time ticked away, however, Bretforton nicked the winning goal, although the ball appeared to enter the net from a striker's boot.

Hereford 2nd continue to carry all before them in Severn 2 and their 4-0 win over Brockworth left them eight points clear at the top of the table.

Brockworth looked threatening in the early stages but the Hereford midfield of Dwyn Jones, Cath Goodwin and Clare Milton produced some fine interlinking to allow the city side to gain control.

The Hereford pressure soon paid off when Jones cracked the ball home from a well-worked penalty corner and some good play from Emily Tompkins and Lis Cooke opened up the way for Lisa Ferneyhough to add the second shortly afterwards.

Jones scored her second of the game after a slick midfield move and then completed her hat-trick just before the end after some good combination play with Goodwin.

With one of their number required to act as umpire, Ross could field only 10 players in their relegation clash against Gloucester 3rd.

In the circumstances, therefore, a goalless draw was a creditable result with midfielders Rebecca Law and Lorraine Stephens and defender Gill Badham producing some fine play.