Ledbury Town Football Club

Match report

Tom Trigg battles for the ball (📷: Chris Ponter)

Following a stellar start to their latest Herefordshire FA County League Premier Division campaign, Ledbury Town fell to their first defeat of the season this weekend with a 5-1 loss at the hands of formidable newcomers Hartpury University. 

The high-flying hosts, who had already sent a strong message to the league with a 10-0 opening demolition of Ludlow Town Colts away, followed by 7-1 and 6-0 home thrashings of Hereford Pegasus Reserves and Welland, had a fairly even first period against Ian Merrick’s men, before a free kick taken under controversial circumstances following a foul from Ben Febery gave Hartpury the lead moments before half-time.

Hartpury ran riot during a far more dominant second period however, finding four further goals despite a number of superb saves pulled off by Ledbury goalkeeper Joshua Worrell, coupled with some good defensive work from hardworking Town man of the match Tom Trigg, captain Matt Rooke, Tom Trigg, Dale Taylor, Pete Jeynes and Curt Williams. Town’s consolation goal was found on the 65^th minute by Josh Burns.

Taylor began his solid work on the visiting back-line by deflecting a powerful strike from an opening corner ball, before a first foul from Febery saw the resulting free kick bounce off the near post, with Worrell diving across to make a save.  A solid challenge from Jeynes near the box was followed by an opposing attacker putting the ball over the head of Nathan Ince near the corner flag as the aerial ball was nodded over the bar, before Hartpury had a slew of further chances to open the scoring there and then through a number of crosses being fed across the box.

Chris Wickham and a number of other Ledbury defenders just about managed to hold up however as Scott Roberts gained possession back upfield, passing the ball on to Tom Boyle as Burns ran in to slot the ball just wide of the woodwork, before Trigg, Wickham, Taylor and Rooke surrounded a home marksman on the edge of the box, even if the attacking player still managed to produce a shot which was cleanly saved by Worrell on the ground.

The 25^thminute saw Febery squander a golden opportunity to take the lead, putting the ball wide in plenty of space in the box, as a corner ball for Hartpury was inadvertently nodded away by one of their defenders. Rooke managed to perform a great upwards clearance as home defender Perry Appiah succumbed to an ankle injury, leaving the field to be replaced by Najee Holder as further great work from Jeynes secured a goal kick for Worrell on the half-hour mark.

A further chance for Town then went begging as a superb cross delivered by Boyle, under pressure towards the corner flag upfield, was seized behind the feet of Burns by the keeper.

Worrell then pulled off what was undoubtedly the save of the game with a spider-like dive to deflect a shot off the rebound of what had already been an impressive stop to block the initial effort, as the opposing outfit continued to threaten by clipping the post off a further rebound resulting from the corner ball which followed Worrell’s exemplary save.

A foul from Febery during the dying minutes of the first period heralded the turning point however, when Holder scored from a re-taken free kick to break the deadlock moments before a frustrated Ledbury side retired for the break. Asten Griffiths replaced Wickham over the interval.

King Baidoo found the second for his side on the 53^rdminute and completed his brace in firing the ball home after it came out to him at the edge of the box following a deflection off Rooke, with Worrell having to make another save as the hosts continued to gain chances.

Burns then found his consolation goal as Febery returned to the action, before the opposition’s fourth goal came courtesy of Brandon Smalley on the 72^ndminute, producing a great finish despite Worrell’s best efforts in stopping the ball on the ground.

Bissett then scored the final goal on the 85^thminute to complete victory, all despite a far closer opening period of play which saw Town put up a decent fight against an opposing outfit capable of playing two leagues higher, with a squad consisting of a number of highly-talented players.