Ledbury Town Football Club

Match report

Ledbury Town Swifts suffered a similar close defeat in their final encounter of 2021 in Division Two of the Herefordshire League, staying tenth in the table after losing out 4-2 against mid-table Belmont Rangers in the first game to be played at New Street since the new Ledbury third team’s own previous 3-2 victory over Leominster Town nearly a month ago when Mike Arlott, Jake Clueit and James Roberts all contributed to the Swifts’ second victory of the season.

Ken Hooper picked up a brace for Belmont during this latest encounter, with Craig Forsyth and James Powell also finding the net for the Rangers as Ledbury Town Football Club chairman Pete Boyle and veteran man of the match for the Swifts that day Duncan Preedy scored the goals for the hosts.

Boyle’s opener after a matter of minutes came courtesy of a great cross from Preedy as the brother of former Town first team manager Phil Preedy went on to score a penalty, before Dan Fish squandered a second chance from the spot.

Joint Swifts manager Richard Thick was left perplexed by his side’s latest defeat, commenting: “We completely dominated the game, having around twenty shots on goal and I just don’t know how we lost.”

“All credit to Belmont, they took their chances and although some poor decisions did cost us at times, four individual errors meant that our players were ultimately the makers of their own downfall.”

“The defeat was a really painful one to take, with a lot of disappointment felt afterwards. We need to be learning to put these games to bed, especially after going 1-0 up very early on and missing several sitters.”

“We have a depleted squad due to so many injuries and now some cases of Covid, but that’s no excuse really for the lads on the pitch. Basic errors week after week are our downfall, but on a positive note, fitness levels are hugely improving and we are definitely now competing in games when compared to the start of the season when we were really struggling to get going.”

The Swifts, along with Ledbury’s first team and reserves side, are now awaiting their opening fixtures of the new year to be announced, with the Herefordshire League looking set to resume on Saturday 8^thJanuary following the festive break.