HIGHMOOR Ibis’s difficult Hellenic League Premier Division campaign continued as they were beaten 6-3 at Ardley United.

The hosts got off to a flying start when a Highmoor defender's back pass went awry and presented Jack Heap with the opportunity to fire into the empty net after just three minutes.

The hosts doubled their lead on 28 minutes. Leam Howards got away down the left and set up Matthew Cruse, who smashed home.

Highmoor were reduced to 10 men eight minutes before half time when Devonn Reid was shown a straight red card for violent conduct.

From a goal kick the ball was knocked back out and Reid and Cruse both jumped for the ball, and as it was cleared the referee blew his whistle and immediately brandished the red card to a stunned Reid.

Howards nearly made it 3-0, only for Lemar Maycock to get the slightest of touches to deflect his shot wide.

Highmoor’s Lamin Sankoh then tried his luck from the edge of the Ardley 18-yard line but provided Lee Farrow with a comfortable collection, before Yashwa Romeo tried to curl one inside the back post – again Farrow was more than ready to claim.

Jamie Connor was the next to test Farrow, but the visitors did pull a goal back early in the second half when Romeo collected a through ball and fired into the top corner.

Howards restored Ardley’s two-goal cushion on the hour mark when Heap set him away down the left channel, and he cut into the area before slotting past the advancing Maycock into the bottom corner.

Highmoor scored again within two minutes, though, a free-kick into the box saw Liam Gavin rise highest to head home.

However, Troy Bryan was on hand to poke home to again give the hosts a two-goal cushion after Chris Jackson nodded down a corner, and on 69 minutes Cruse scored his second.

He completed his hat-trick before Rhys York added a late consolation for Highmoor two minutes from time, when a Farrow clearance cannoned back off the Highmoor player and he spun to shoot into the empty net.

Marcus Richardson’s men host Oxford City Nomads on Saturday (3pm) before returning to Ardley in the Floodlit Cup next Tuesday (7.45pm).