Hardwicke stunned fifth-placed Ruardean Hill Rangers with an emphatic 4-1 County League win thanks to two goals apiece from Will Higgins and Kerion Bryce-Ingles.

They were in front on five minutes when a ball clipped down the right from Rich Mansell found James Ratcliffe. He broke into the box and was brought down and Higgins blasted the ball home from the spot.

Will Matthews had a chance to double the lead in the 20th minute but eight minutes later the visitors were level through a Bobby Walding free-kick. Two goals from Bryce-Ingles – the second after some brilliant individual skill – put the home side back in charge and Higgins completed the scoring just before the end.

Second-placed Frampton United had to dig deep to win 2-1 at Little Stoke.

Frampton had chances in the opening 45 minutes – Sean Lawson smashed the ball into the side netting and Ryan Vincent hooked Josh Beadle’s low cross over the bar from four yards – but the home side had chances too and they went ahead just before the break when centre-back Luke Sperring headed home from a corner.

Frampton had the wind behind them in the second half and both Vincent and Beadle missed chances before they drew level on 59 minutes with a superb free-kick from the edge of the box wide on the left by Vincent that was curled in at the far side of the goal.

Little Stoke hit back immediately and a superb header from Ethan Tucker was hooked off the line by Liam O’Neil and Frampton keeper Steve Sparrow then saved well from Jordan Yeo’s low shot to the near post.

Substitute Luke Meacham was also denied by Sparrow while at the other end Fraser Wilson saw his shot well saved by Ollie Jones.

Four minutes from the time the decisive goal came and the home side can consider themselves a little unlucky as Sperring knocked substitute Adam Bloomfield’s low cross past his own keeper.

Little Stoke staged a grandstand finish but Frampton held firm to remain five points behind leaders Lebeq United.

Gala Wilton remain rooted to the bottom of the table after going down 3-1 at home to Broadwell Amateurs.

Gala started well but failed to find a way through and were behind on 20 minutes when Kristin Burnard struck a wonderful 35-yard shot that dipped over Lewis Skyers in the home goal.

A minute before the break the home side levelled and it came following a break down the right by Joel Skyers.

His cross into the box was headed onto the bar by Finlay Kerr but Ben Sluman was on hand to turn the rebound past keeper Mack Sadler.

Broadwell’s Guy Jones then had a great header saved by Skyers on 66 minutes but nine minutes later the visitors took the lead after some uncertainty in the home box and Frankie Johnson was on hand to knock the ball home. A mix-up in the home defence allowed Broadwell in again and Harry Williams scored to make it 3-1.

Stonehouse Town are through to the semi-finals of the Les James League Cup for the first time after winning 3-1 at Hanham Athletic.

It was the home side who opened the scoring on 23 minutes when Sam Brown netted after Brad Lewis had sent him clear.

But the lead lasted only three minutes as Adam Philp ran clear to make it 1-1. The home side were unlucky when Max Barker’s shot cannoned off the crossbar before Stonehouse took the lead through the unmarked Adam Ireland who ran clear to round Mason Hawkins in the home goal.

The visitors wrapped up the second-round tie two minutes from the end with a spectacular goal from Liam Gale who volleyed the ball from his own half over the head of keeper Hawkins.

Other results, County League: Patchway T 4 AEK Boco 1; Rockleaze R 2 Henbury 2; Wick 0 Lebeq Utd 2.