CLEE Hill United boss Wayne Whitbread insists Wellington are still clear favourites for the Herefordshire Premier title despite his side’s victory in last weekend’s top-of-the-table clash.

A Joshua Carpenter hat-trick – which took the striker’s tally for the season to an amazing 30 goals in 15 games – earned Hill a 3-2 win over the league leaders.

In reply Welly's goals came courtesy of Stephen Brotherwood and Matthew Williams

The victory moves United to within 11 points of the table-toppers but with four games in hand and a trip to Wellington to come later in the season.

Whitbread acknowledged the importance of the win but says United still have it all to do to reel their rivals in.

He said: “Wellington are still in control because we can’t afford to slip up any week, which is a lot of pressure on us.

“We know this was a brilliant result and a great performance but we can’t waste it.

“It keeps the race alive – if we had lost, we would have been 17 points behind and it would have been season over. Now we still have something to play for.”

Ledbury Town saw their faint title hopes dented further with a 3-1 home defeat by Tenbury Town with Curt Williams netting for the hosts.

That defeat allowed Westfields Reserves to move back into third following a 3-1 victory over Ewyas Harold.

Jack Manuel, Ben Thomas and Jamie Wilding were all on the score-sheet for the hosts.

Stuart Mills was the hat-trick hero in crunch game of the bottom three as Holme Lacy distanced Kington Town with a 3-1 victory with Jamie Wilding scoring the other for the hosts.

Ludlow Town Colts remain unbeaten in Division One and dispatched rivals Orleton with ease running out 5-1 winners.

That allowed Hinton Reserves to tighten their grip on second following a 5-3 victory over Belmont Wanderers with Ben Sheffield and Marlon Ransome each netting a brace while Ryan Purnell scored the other.