STRUGGLING Hereford are beginning to lose touch with the mid-table pack in the Gerrard West of England and South Wales Men's League North Division 1 after a 3-1 home defeat by Newent.

Hereford had started well and spent long periods in their opponents' half before the visitors broke away on 20 minutes and a cross was diverted to a Newent forward on the goal line for a simple tap in.

Newent stepped up the pace in the second period and went on to add two more goals, one from a well-taken short corner and the other from open play.

Hereford's consolation came from skipper Colin Amos who followed up to slot home from close range after the goalkeeper had made fine saves from three previous attempts.

Leominster suffered a setback in North Division 2 when they saw a 2-1 lead overturned as they went down 3-2 at West Wilts.

The visitors made a useful start and put pressure on the home side only to fall behind to a breakaway goal.

But Leominster fought back to take the lead before the interval when short corner moves produced goals for Josh Watkins and Rob Goodman.

Unfortunately, however, the North Herefordshire side lost their way in the second period and sloppy defending saw them concede two goals with the winner coming five minutes from the end.

Top-of-the-table Westbury and UB 3rd proved too strong for Hereford 2nd and maintained their 100 percent record at the top of North-East West District 1 with a 2-1 win.

But Hereford gave as good as they got for much of the game and their efforts might easily have been rewarded with a point.

Honours were even at the break, with Dave Horwood outstanding in the Hereford back line, but Westbury rapidly assumed control after the interval, converting a half-chance to take the lead.

Hereford stormed back, however, and Richard Brown's cross was stroked in by Dan Little before Westbury clinched the points from a penalty corner with just minutes remaining.

Leominster 2nd are now level on points with Hereford 2nd after a narrow 1-0 success over Bristol 3rd in a very competitive game.

Simon Maxwell made the vital breakthrough at Bridge Street Sports Centre, scoring the winning goal midway through the second period.

It was a good team performance from Leominster with goalkeeper Richard Graves earning the man-of-the-match award with some good saves.

Hereford 3rd came home with a useful point after earning a 1-1 draw at Westbury 4th in North-East West District 2.

Solid defensive play by Tony Larkin, Rich Wenham and Chris Lewis largely controlled the Westbury threat in the first period although the homeside capitalised on one half-chance to open the scoring.

Hereford attacked well from midfield and their efforts gained reward after the break when Lewis put Will Earp in to add to his goal tally with the equaliser.

Ross-on-Wye have been showing much improved form lately and continued their good run in North-East West District 3 with a 4-1 win over third-placed North Somerset 2nd.

With Phil Evans and Andy Cross turning in fine displays on the wings, Richard Harbottle was able to fire the home side into a two-goal interval lead.

North Somerset hit back after the break to reduce arrears but Ross quickly re-established the two-goal margin when Andy Layton, Adrian Williams and Andy Ridgway combined to release Cross for a fine solo goal.

Time still remained for Harbottle to complete the scoring and round off a convincing win for the South Herefordshire side.

Lack-lustre Hereford 4th tumbled to their first defeat of the season in North-East West District 4 when they went down 2-1 at Old Bristolians 5th.

Leading scorer Chris Moody fired Hereford ahead in the first half but the home side hit back twice after the interval to secure their second win of the season.

Only some fine saves from goalkeeper Peter Preece prevented a bigger defeat.

Leominster 3rd gained ground on their county rivals when they came away with a 3-2 win from their visit to North Somerset 3rd.