LEOMINSTER have clinched promotion to Premier Division 3 of the N4 Financial Solutions West of England and South Wales League.

The north Herefordshire side secured promotion after beating nearest rivals Cardiff & Uwic 2nd and Cheltenham 2nd in North Division 1 last weekend.

Leominster got their weekend off to a tremendous start, recording a 4-1 win over the students who headed the table at the start of Saturday.

Cardiff scored an early goal and, despite Leominster losing several players to the sin bin, the visitors trailed just 1-0 at the break.

Josh Watkins hauled Leominster level five minutes into the second half and then man-of-the-match Nicko Evans struck to put the visitors ahead.

Cardiff had an effort ruled out which caused them to lose discipline and the hosts were soon reduced to eight men.

Leominster took full advantage and goals from Watkins and Henry Eastman wrapped up an important win.

Leominster sealed promotion last Sunday after a 3-1 win at third-placed Cheltenham 2nd.

A late hat-trick from Rob Goodman sparked a dramatic turnaround for Leominster who trailed 1-0 with just 16 minutes left.

Cheltenham took an early lead and held the advantage until Goodman fired in a penalty for the visitors.

With Cheltenham forced to push for the win, Leominster flourished in the space.

Goodman led the visitors’ celebrations with two further goals from James Dunn passes.

Leominster have two matches remaining and need a maximum of three points to win the league title.

Hereford will be facing Leominster next season after the city club’s promotion hopes vanished after a 5-2 home loss to Plymouth Uni in Premier Division 3.

Colin Amos and Charlie Jones scored for Hereford who trailed 3-2 at the interval and conceded two further goals in their third straight loss.

A Mike Broady hat-trick inspired Hereford 2nd to a 4-3 win at Newent 2nd in Herefords & Glos 1.

Hereford fought back from 3-1 down to claim a hard-fought victory against the young Gloucestershire side.

Skipper Steve Alderton also found the net for Hereford whose triumph was rounded off by a superb reverse-stick shot from Broady.

Adrian Williams snapped up a second-half hat-trick for Ross-on-Wye in their 6-2 home victory against Lansdown 2nd.

Tom Walton, Phil Evans and man-of-the-match Matt Saunders also got on the scoresheet for Ross who fell behind and were locked at 1-1 the break.

Ross were outstanding in the second half and there were also fine displays from midfielders Kristian Franklin and Andy Wright.

A goal from Jack Rowsell rescued a point for Leominster 2nd in a 1-1 home draw with Cirencester 3rd.

Leominster’s Lee Ellsmore missed an open goal late in the match.

Adam Couch and Seb Sullivan starred in Ross-on-Wye 2nd’s 3-2 win at Gloucester City 5th in Herefords & Glos 2.

The outstanding Couch bagged a brace and goalkeeper Sullivan saved a second-half penalty-flick to inspire Ross to victory.

Andy Cross scored the other goal for Ross who were delighted with the win.

Leigham Hayde scored twice in quick succession but Hereford 3rd suffered a 4-2 defeat at high-flying Cheltenham 4th.

Hereford led 2-1 before Hayde was harshly yellow-carded and, while he was off the pitch, the hosts netted three times.