Ewyas Harold claimed their third consecutive Premier Division title in the Hereford Times Herefordshire League with a 3-1 home win over Civil Service on Monday.

The villagers will be going for the double tonight when they meet Ross Town in the HFL Senior Cup at Edgar Street, kick-off 6.30pm.

Derek Howells provided Harold with a perfect start to their title clincher when he headed in Gareth Howells' centre from six yards after 15 minutes.

However, an injury soon after forced Howells off and, thanks to the brilliant work from Civil Service's keeper, it took Harold until five minutes before half-time to make it two.

Pressure from Simon Macklyn was rewarded when the visiting defence let in Steve Radziejowski and the striker made no mistake with his tap home for his 106th goal for Harold.

Club captain Tommy Taylor, who replaced the injured Howells, made his comeback from illness a memorable one with the third goal in the second half.

Stan Jones did the hard work and turned the Civil Service defence inside out before he found Taylor.

The substitute's header was pushed away but he slammed the rebound into the net to guarantee that his would side retain their crown.

Civil Service scored to reduce the deficit but it was no more than a consolation for the city side who are destined to finish in the bottom three.

Harold set up their championship-winning opportunity with a 6-2 away victory over Ross Town on Saturday, fuelled by a second-half hat-trick from Mel Langford.

The scoreline slightly flattered the visitors but, once they went ahead through Simon Macklyn on 15 minutes, they never relinquished their advantage.

Tom Herbert created the opener when he beat the home defence and cut in a low drive for Macklyn to finish from six yards.

A throw-in from Herbert created the second on the half-hour and Gareth Thomas found Stan Jones, who scored with a header.

Town pulled one back through Andrew Trotman with the last kick of the first half, but 10 minutes after the break Radziejowski set up Langford and he restored Harold's margin.

Langley Harris hit back to keep Ross in contention five minutes later when a defensive mix-up allowed him to beat keeper Stuart Turpin, but Harris went on to miss a chance to level.

And Harold made Town pay with three goals in the last 20 minutes - the first when a shot from Langford was pushed into the path of Radziejowski to score.

Langford then took centre stage, with a lob to make it 5-2 and a spot kick success after Radziejowski had been pulled back.

It was the second defeat in succession for Ross after a 3-1 reverse in midweek away to Westfields, with the city side's goals from John Hutton, Matt Bishop and Alec Brown.

Second position is the best that Woofferton can aim for after they put the destiny of the title into the hands of Ewyas Harold with a 2-2 draw away to Sutton United.

The result ended the title aspirations of fellow challengers Sutton and they will finish fourth.

The visitors went ahead within five minutes when Neil Crump spotted Sutton's keeper off his line and curled a shot home from the edge of the area.

A depleted Sutton side, who were missing four regulars, pulled level when Ashley Rumsley scored but just before half time Rob Banks struck after a scramble from a corner.

Anthony McQuaid claimed an equaliser for Sutton with 10 minutes left but a draw was the result that neither side wanted.

Woofferton had previously leapfrogged Harold to the top of the table thanks to a 3-0 midweek triumph at Civil Service, with first-half goals from Simon Lane, Robert Hicks and Rob Banks.

They now have to take at least a draw from their forthcoming clash with third-position Fownhope to have any chance of claiming runners-up spot.

Weston wrapped up their season with a 3-0 victory at Ross United Services after taking a first-minute lead through Steve Winney.

Winney made the most of a scramble in the Ross box and volleyed in from 12 yards before Barry Davies made it two on the half-hour.

Paul Burnham put in a well-taken corner and, when Ross could only half clear the ball, Davies took advantage with a cracking volley from the edge of the area.

Bobby Hatch had opportunities to pull Ross back into the game but after half time the visitors underlined their dominance of the match.

Burnham ran through with 15 minutes left and made sure Weston's season ended in winning fashion.