Ledbury Town Football Club

Match report

Ledbury Town finally got the chance to lock horns with formidable Herefordshire Football League Premier Division newcomers Sporting Club Inkberrow this week in a Friday evening fixture under the floodlights at New Street, as a goalless draw resulted in the bitterly cold early-December conditions.

In what had been the first time Ian Merrick’s squad had taken to the field since the 2-0 defeat incurred ten days previously against current Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division fourth place holders Hereford Pegasus at home to once again exit the second round of the Herefordshire FA County Challenge Cup competition in near-identical fashion to last season, and the first time engaged in league action since the 3-0 victory over other league newcomers this season Westfields Development at allpay.park nearly three weeks ago, a tough affair saw Ledbury’s latest opponents push to very nearly find the net during the closing ten minutes, were it not for some heroic saves from Town goalkeeper and man of the match Alex Goode.

The draw still keeps Merrick’s men top of the table with a sizeable ten-point and sixteen-goal lead over Pegasus’ reserves side in second, also maintaining a remarkable unbeaten league run of fifteen games which includes twelve wins.

With no fewer than five games still in hand over Ledbury however, fourth-placed Inkberrow remain a considerable threat to the top of the table going into the new year as Town have two final league engagements before 2022 is up, with a visit to tenth place holders Holme Lacy taking place this coming Saturday before the black and white shirts return home just in time for Christmas the following weekend with a first encounter of the season against current league basement boys Tenbury United (both games KO 2:00pm).

Merrick’s high-flying side have already defeated Holme Lacy with a 2-0 win at New Street during the very first league game of the season played back in mid-August, when a first Ledbury goal of the season from captain Joel Skyers was followed by Ben Febery finding the net on the 81st minute.

Town’s previous visit to Holme Lacy’s ground twelve months ago was rather less fruitful however, ending in an unexpected goalless draw despite the visitors being on a real high having caused a major upset in the first round of the Herefordshire FA County Challenge Cup competition at their historic ground three days previously, overcoming Hereford Lads Club also of the Hellenic League Premier Division with a magnificent 6-0 victory as braces from Tom Boyle and Josh Burns, along with goals from Nathan Ince and new joint-manager this season Scott Roberts secured a stunning win.

Following Ludlow Town Colts’ failure to raise a side for their scheduled Herefordshire FA Charity Bowl quarter-final game against Ledbury at New Street last weekend, the black and white shirts were awarded a home walkover to send them through to a third Charity Bowl semi-final in the space of three years, having last won the silverware back in April 2019 at allpay.park when an 81st minute winner from substitute player Charlie Docherty following first-half goals from Joe Bullock and Samuel Palmer-Young secured a memorable 3-2 victory over Holme Lacy.

Town will play sixth-placed league rivals Clee Hill United in the penultimate stage of the latest competition on a date and venue to be announced in 2023, after the Shropshire-based outfit sailed through with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Westfields’ Development side at home last weekend, as Craig Breakwell found a brace for the hosts with Josh Bowen and Liam Whitbread also on target.

Merrick’s men beat current title holders Pegasus Reserves 3-1 on penalties after the scoreline stood at three goals apiece after ninety minutes in the first round of the contest at Old School Lane on 23rd September, four months after the Pegasus second string claimed the trophy through defeating Ledbury with a 3-1 win at the Herefordshire FA County Ground when a Saul Thomas brace and opener from Harvey Evans outnumbered the sole Town consolation goal scored by George Walker.

The more recent Charity Bowl encounter between the two Herefordshire League Premier Division arch rivals saw Ryan Pugh, Zac Blood and Febery put away their spot kicks, as Goode made two terrific saves during a nail-biting penalty shootout following a Boyle brace and additional goal from Febery being scored earlier as Corey Ellis, Harvey Evans and substitute player Charlie Jenkins all found the net for the reserves, even if home defender Marc Avery was sent off with a double booking from referee Ian Jervis.