Season: 2021-22

Clee Hill United vs Ledbury Town

Tom Boyle strikes the free kick past the four-man wall of opposing players which allowed Ben Febery to sneak in and put away Ledbury’s winning goal against Clee Hill (📸: Chris Ponter)

Ledbury Town repaired the damage done by a second Herefordshire FA County League Premier Division defeat of the season incurred at New Street last weekend with their 2-1 loss to Hereford Lads Club Reserves, achieving the reverse result this week as a Ben Febery brace secured an important victory away against former league champions Clee Hill United.

Febery’s opener came courtesy of a tenth minute assist from Tom Boyle as both sides battled against strong and freezing windy conditions at the Knowle Sports Ground, before Ledbury’s opponents managed to equalize at the worst possible time minutes before the interval in a fashion which very much mirrored the two recent losses against current league leaders Hartpury University and Lads Club Reserves.

Unlike Town’s two defeats so far this season however, it was the black and white shirts who took the advantage during the second period when a 60thminute Boyle free kick saw visiting man of the match Febery sneak in to retake the lead, despite the previous quarter-hour of play witnessing countless chances for Clee Hill to go ahead.

A battling team performance, which included many fine saves from busy Ledbury keeper Joshua Worrell as well as some good defensive work from Dale Taylor, allowed Ian Merrick’s determined outfit to retain the scoreline right up until referee for the day Les Coultas blew the final whistle.

Things started brightly for Town under the overcast skies at Clee Hill’s lofty venue thanks to the combined efforts of Boyle and Febery in securing the opener, before an 18thminute free kick from the hosts past the two-man wall of Curt Williams and Chris Wickham was assisted by the strong crosswinds to curl into the centre of the box, with Worrell just about managing to get a hand to the ball in order to narrowly deflect the follow-up shot.

Worrell performed further quick-witted blocks with his feet at either post, with Taylor being on hand to clear the danger away in the latter instance as a 24thminute spot kick saw the visitors just about manager to keep the ball out in a much more uncertain and nervy manner following a messy scramble in the box.

A highly-deceiving cross-shot from Ledbury’s opponents from the far wing appeared to have gone in from the viewpoint of some of the spectators braving the cold that afternoon at Clee Hill’s ground, as the ball actually made contact with the side of the netting.

Dwayne Tyndale was then judged to have committed a foul on the half-hour mark, as the resulting free kick from the hosts was helped along by the strong gusts to travel harmlessly wide of the target.

Impressive footwork from Boyle saw the seasoned striker make a run around several defenders and then out to the near wing, with his effort from a challenging angle clipping the near post although not without the diving keeper making contact with the ball to award Town a corner.

The opposing goaltender cleanly caught the set-piece away from Febery on the line as his side rattled the bar back across field, with a 37thminute free kick this time taken by Febery being curled straight into the gloves of the Clee Hill keeper.

Worrell dived to make another good save as Boyle volleyed the ball over the woodwork from close range while under pressure from a home defender, with the visitors squandering a second chance in barely a minute when Curt Williams nodded the ball wide of the far post from the ground with two defenders either side of him in the box.

Ledbury’s failure to find the security of a second goal before the interval was swiftly punished when an opposing striker raced down the far wing on the break, taking full advantage of Tom Trigg momentarily losing his footing to fire the ball home for the equalizer.

Clee Hill weren’t done as the opening period entered stoppage time, with Wickham being required to block a further effort as the hosts put the ball well wide of the target on the rebound, before a further cross-shot from the Shropshire-based outfit soared over the head of Taylor on the touchline before bouncing twice along the crossbar.

This stark warning to Merrick’s men rang all the more true going into the second period, as their opponents dominated the first fifteen minutes but missed chance after chance as Worrell was forced to make a superb catch while under pressure on the line on the follow-up from a 55thminute corner ball.

Wickham needed to perform a covering clearance after a Clee Hill forward put the ball through Taylor on the edge of the box, with Worrell making a close-range catch from a header as home supporters were left aghast as to how their side were not 2-1 up by this point.

This sustained attack prompted Merrick to make a rare triple change of personnel as Asten Griffiths, Wickham and Williams were all substituted for Alistair Holder, Sam Branch and Charlie Docherty, with this big shake-up of Town’s line-up heralding a turning point when Boyle’s free kick made it past the four-man wall of opposing defenders, as Clee Hill’s failure to clear the ball away was ultimately the key factor in deciding their fate that afternoon as Febery snuck around the back to complete his double in cheeky fashion.

The hosts kept the pressure on despite their major setback as Worrell was again required to make another great save in order to keep his side ahead, before Boyle managed to get the ball to Branch as the visiting substitute player’s cross-shot from the touchline saw the ball fly across the goalmouth and only just be deflected in time by the keeper.

Coultas then saw fit to have a brief word with Taylor and an opposing attacker for a spot of argy bargy between the two players near the corner flag on the 75thminute, with the seasoned official then ignoring Ledbury calls for handball despite the Clee Hill captain’s hand appearing to make contact with the ball a few yards outside the box.

After a further shot from Boyle flew narrowly across the front of goal as the prolific striker’s goal drought since the emphatic 6-0 Herefordshire FA County Challenge Cup victory achieved against Hereford Lads Club at New Street over a fortnight ago continued, the red and black shirts chose to make a substitution with ten minutes remaining for them to salvage their game.

Holder then volleyed the ball over and wide after receiving it from Docherty in the box, before Taylor’s free kick ended up in the hands of the keeper after the new Town signing this season himself was felled towards the near sideline.

The hosts made a final change of personnel as Worrell stretched to deflect an effort by just enough of a distance to allow Taylor to make the clearance, and after George Walker came on to finish the game for an accomplished Febery, the match entered a nervy extended period of stoppage time as a further free kick was deflected out to Tyndale, who managed to volley the ball away.

Worrell, seemingly unable to escape injury in recent weeks after he was sent flying by a late merciless challenge from Lads Club Reserves the previous weekend after suffering a blow to the head during the taking of a 78thminute corner ball during the 6-1 home demolition of Wellington Rangers a month ago, with striker Nathan Ince having to don the keeper’s gloves on both occasions, was thankfully able to continue playing after being momentarily felled on the line after the taking of the previous set-piece, with one final foul from Holder seeing one last-ditch spot kick from Ledbury’s latest opponents being sent wide as Merrick’s squad celebrated a highly-significant victory.

Fourth-placed Town, just a point behind Hartpury, Hereford Pegasus Reserves and Lads Club Reserves above them with a game in hand over the third of these table toppers, return home this coming weekend to host none other than Pegasus Reserves at New Street in another challenging encounter, before hitting the road again the following weekend to face Ewyas Harold (both games KO 2:00pm).

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Worcester United Reserves vs Ledbury Town Swifts

Ledbury Town Swifts remain bottom of Division Two of the Herefordshire League with a second consecutive 3-2 defeat away against Worcester United Reserves at Martley Village Hall this week, following the same result recorded at the Ledbury Rugby Football Club Ross Road ground against Ross Juniors Reserves last weekend, although with Richard Thick’s new young side continuing to show promise as they seek an elusive first win of the season.

A 25-yard screamer from Nat Dunk made it 1-0 to the Swifts by half-time, with a Clayton Hodges volley from outside the box later restoring the scoreline to two goals apiece with fifteen minutes left on the clock, as the visitors were then unlucky to concede a third goal.

Will Freer picked up a brace for Worcester, with Bradley Wooding also being on target for the hosts as Ethan Cox was named man of the match for the Ledbury third outfit.

Thick was again encouraged by his visiting side’s performance, commenting: “The lads were superb again, and yet again the improvements are clear. Instead of the inevitable collapse when Worcester took the lead, which was typical of our games a few weeks back, the players really dug in to get the scoreline back to 2-2.”

“We definitely deserved something from the game. Lapses in concentration cost us, but against strong opposition who are on a run of form at present, it was another great performance. The win is coming!”

The Swifts continue their busy November of fixtures this coming Saturday with a visit to Tenbury United Colts away at Palmers Meadow, before hosting mid-table Leominster Town at the Ross Road ground the following week and ending the month with a visit to face Credenhill at Roman Park (all games again KO 2:00pm).

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Weston Under Penyard vs Ledbury Town Reserves

Alistair Holder is beaten to a 35th minute corner ball delivered by captain Nick Bolton, as goalscorer that evening Kieran Loveridge looks on from the foreground (📸: Chris Ponter)

Ledbury Town Reserves pulled off a remarkable comeback during a well-attended Wednesday evening fixture at New Street this week, coming back from being 2-0 down after just twenty minutes to score a 4-2 victory over Weston under Penyard in the opening round of this season’s Ross Cup competition, with man of the match Tom Skittery picking up a hat-trick.

Despite the fixture being rearranged to take place at Ledbury’s floodlit venue rather than at Weston’s ground, as had originally been scheduled over a week previously with the game having to be postponed at the last minute due to no referee being available, the home advantage didn’t appear to pay dividends for David Butcher and Nick Blakeway’s young squad at first.

The visitors opened the scoring from a free kick just before the quarter-hour mark, swiftly going on to convert a penalty six minutes later as it was Skittery’s first of three goals scored that night just before the interval which proved critical in keeping the game open going into the latter half of play.

Whatever Butcher said to his young players in the changing room over the break then appeared to work wonders, as a seemingly transformed reserves outfit equalized through Kieran Loveridge barely four minutes from the restart.

Both a Charlie Jones free kick and a forgiving crossbar enabled Skittery to complete his treble, booking his side a well-deserved place in the quarter-finals of the competition against all the odds after such an unfavourable start.

Skittery gained a chance to find his first goal before ten minutes of play were up when his opening free kick was struck past the four-man wall of opposing defenders to be caught by the keeper, before a volley from James Kenny positioned a few yards outside the box cleared the ball away back downfield.

Weston were denied a goalscoring opportunity on a very-much-unlucky thirteenth minute for the visiting outfit when Jake Bramley flagged one of their forwards offside while running the near sideline for the hosts, with the red and black shirts quickly replying by knocking the ball on past Blakeway, taking up goalkeeping duties for his side that evening as the free kick was finished to end up in the net.

Skittery saw an effort slip past the keeper and clip the post back up the far end, and after Tom Reid was forced to exit the field with a shoulder injury to be replaced by Samuel Palmer-Young in an earlier-than-expected first Ledbury substitution, the bad news continued for the hosts as referee for the occasion Nick Fish deemed Palmer-Young to have committed a foul in the box, enabling the opposition to fire home the penalty which further secured their lead.

Butcher yelled at his players to step up their game, with the Weston goaltender having to leap in order to seize the ball in front of an incoming Skittery following a deflection off Loveridge, with the reserves being unable to find anything from three consecutive corner balls on the half-hour mark as a further effort from the hosts was cleared out from the six-yard box.

Ledbury’s newfound persistence eventually paid off however when a well-taken free kick from reserves captain Nick Bolton enabled Skittery to slot in what would turn out to be a game-changing opener for his side, with the hosts managing to escape a further injury worry moments before the break when Alistair Holder returned to his feet after struggling momentarily from the results of an attempted challenge near the away dugout.

George Hackman replaced Bolton over the break as the second period began with a man down this time for the visitors near the corner flag downfield, with Fish soon waving the oncoming physio back to the dugout after deeming no further treatment to be necessary.

A Holder free kick from the near-wing saw Callum Blackmore-Davey, making a welcome return t the Ledbury second string following a bad ankle injury incurred during a friendly against Welland before the pandemic hit, put the ball just wide of the target with his left foot, before Loveridge restored the stalemate by firing home a corner ball which rebounded back out to him.

The regular reserves striker had a further chance denied barely a minute later when a free kick from Jones was nodded away by the defender stood in front of him on the edge of the box, with drama following on the 55thminute when a poor challenge against Palmer-Young saw Fish seeing no cause to issue a booking, despite Butcher entering the pitch to check up on his stricken player.

The hosts’ first substitute player was fortunately able to shrug the injury off, as Jones’ second free kick resulting from the previous foul saw Skittery miss out on connecting with a diving header in the box.

It was a then case of third time lucky for Jones as his further spot kick was nodded on by Loveridge, with Skittery sneaking in round the back and catching the opposing defence unawares as his cheeky chip beat the keeper to put his side ahead for the first time that night.

The Weston keeper put paid to a further strike from the reserves’ star player that evening with an impressive save, before a third Ledbury change of personnel saw Bramley enter the fray in exchange for Loveridge with twenty minutes left on the clock.

Skittery then embarked on a run down the far wing, managing to cross the ball in to Bramley whose effort lacked the power needed to trouble the visiting goaltender, before the reserves’ man of the match struck in more decisive fashion when his shot from inside the box bounced down from the woodwork and over the line to complete his hat-trick.

This fourth goal prompted Butcher to bring Brad Potter off for Jake Clueit as Bolton then had to return to the field for Blackmore-Davey who was struggling with cramp, and, after Skittery eventually retired at a job well done for Jack Dandy to take over for the remaining eight minutes, it was a simply a case for the hosts to close out the final moments of the game to reserves their place in the next round of the contest against Burghill Rangers at The Copse on Saturday 4thDecember (KO 1:30pm).

Before this takes place however, Butcher and Blakeway’s team will be looking to carry this cup success on as they return to their Herefordshire FA County League Division One campaign this coming weekend, hosting lowly Hinton Reserves at New Street before a fortnight’s break sees them entertain mid-table Holme Lacy Reserves (both games KO 2:00pm).

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Ledbury Town vs Lads Club Reserves

Ledbury goalkeeper Joshua Worrell is sent flying through a sliding challenge at the corner of the box performed by a visiting striker, earning the offending attacking player a straight red card (📷: Chris Ponter)

A number of contentious penalty decisions resulted in Ledbury Town recording a second defeat of the season at New Street this week, losing out 2-1 against Hereford Lads Club Reserves in a Halloween Herefordshire FA County League Premier Division encounter.

Initially it looked as if a horror show would be far off the cards for Ian Merrick’s men, when Ben Febery put away a penalty just four minutes in to rapturous applause from the good seventy-strong group of spectators.

As the first period progressed however, missed chances for Tom Boyle as well as some header opportunities for Tom Trigg and Sam Branch meant that Ledbury’s somewhat disjointed play, lacking the flow and confidence which has won them so much success in cup competitions recently, was ultimately punished when the low sun conspired against goalkeeper Joshua Worrell to see Lads Club equalize on the brink of the interval through James Price.

The latter half of play turned out to be rather more of a nightmare on New Street, as challenges from home captain Matt Rooke and seasoned winger Pete Jeynes prompted referee for the day Joshua Marchant to award a penalty to the Reserves on both occasions, with the second of which being successfully converted by Nicholas Weaver.

Nathan Ince was then called back off the bench to take up the keeper’s gloves late in the game, following an ill-advised sliding challenge from a visiting striker which sent both Worrell flying and the offending opposing attacker off the field with a straight red card.

Febery’s successful opening spot kick after he was brought down in the box was followed on the quarter-hour mark by a first chance for Trigg, who nodded the ball just wide of the target after Ben Miller fed the ball back into the box after the former Westfields striker’s corner was deflected out to him.

Worrell was then called upon to make a great first diving save on the 21stminute when a Lads Club target man managed to perform a shot past Dale Taylor in front of him, before good work from Branch, managing to gain possession a few yards outside the box, allowed Miller to cross the ball in from the far wing as Scott Roberts sliced the ball to Boyle, whose volley sent the ball over the bar.

The Reserves put an effort of their own over on the half-hour mark back upfield, before Trigg performed a solid block to deny a visiting forward of a goalscoring opportunity while making a run across field.

Miller was flagged offside in controversial manner by the opposing linesman as the returning Town attacker had a clear run downfield, before the hosts won a further corner on the 38thminute as Ince pursued the ball towards the touchline.

The set-piece from Febery saw Trigg miss a second header as Rooke performed a defensive header of his own back up the far end, even if it caused the ball to travel just that little close to the far post for comfort.

Worrell made another fine save to stop a direct Lads Club effort with five minutes left of the first period remaining, before a similar great save from the Reserves keeper deflected an effort from Boyle for a corner back downfield.

The set-piece was again delivered by Febery to see Branch nod the ball the wrong way while under pressure pressure towards the edge of the box, before a worthwhile impromptu overhead kick from Miller, returning to the action after being sin-binned for dissent ten minutes earlier, saw the ball fly just shy of the top corner of the frame.

Ledbury’s fragile lead was shattered moments before Marchant blew the half-time whistle, when Worrell, handicapped by the low autumn sunslight, saw a ball from Price sneak past his glove to see a downcast Town outfit retire to the changing room over the break in similarly despondent mood to when they exited the field at this point a week previously, during a frustrating goalless league draw away against Holme Lacy.

The second period kicked off in rather ghoulish manner for Merrick’s squad, as Worrell was forced to dive off his line in an attempt to deflect a corner, with the ball going out to Rooke who was judged by Marchant to have handled the ball in the box, giving the visitors the first of two penalty opportunities.

Home players and supporters alike were vindicated when the spot kick was struck well over the woodwork, before a free kick for Town man of the match Roberts back upfield was struck past the three-man wall of opposing defenders at the edge of the box to end up straight in the gloves of their keeper.

Febery was felled again on the near wing as Jeynes came on to replace Ince in a first Ledbury substitution, making his mark on the game in a swift and pronounced manner on the 58thminute in bringing down a Lads Club attacker in the box, prompting Marchant to award the Reserves a second penalty which Weaver this time wasted little time in putting away past a diving Worrell.

The Town goaltender later fumbled the ball for it to slip just wide of the near post as the resulting corner ball was easily nodded away by the home defence, and, after Alistair Holder came on to replace Chris Wickham, the second Ledbury substitute player managed to header clear a further corner ball from the visitors before an opposing striker put the ball well over the bar on the rebound.

Roberts and a Lads Club substitute player were cautioned by Marchant over a brief fracas which occurred in midfield as this All Hallows fixture started to become that little more heated, before a fittingly ghastly turn of events occurred for Town seven minutes from time when the aforementioned Reserves marksman launched in against Worrell at the corner of the box to receive his immediate sending-off, with Ince donning the keeper’s jersey as Curt Williams replaced Branch in a final home change of personnel.

One final corner from Roberts was deflected via a diving header from a visiting defender at the edge of the box back upfield, with Jeynes receiving a sole yellow card of the affair for a late challenge committed near the centre-circle as the resulting free kick saw contact being made with Ince on the touchline as the replacement Ledbury keeper leapt to make the catch.

Febery then saw a final stoppage time shot saved as Town were forced to accept slipping to fifth place in the league table, with this latest result enabling their opponents this week to go top as Merrick’s side hope to make amends this coming weekend by making the trip to face formidable former league champions Clee Hill United at the Knowle Sports Ground, with kick-off now being at the earlier time of 2:00pm.

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Holme Lacy vs Ledbury Town

Ben Miller aims to take possession of the ball. (📸: Chris Ponter)

Following their euphoric 6-0 demolition of Hereford Lads Club in the opening round of this season’s Herefordshire FA County Challenge Cup competition, Ledbury Town were brought back down to earth with a bump drawing 0-0 away to Holme Lacy.

Despite countless chances for Josh Burns, Tom Boyle and Nathan Ince, who had all ran rampant against Lads Club at New Street three days previously, the goals just didn’t want to happen for Ian Merrick’s men as frustration from both sides over being denied a single mark on the scoresheet boiled over to result in referee Tom Fairclough issuing no fewer than eight yellow cards during a fiery second period.

The fouls began as early as the second minute as Ince committed a late challenge, before the hosts returned the favour in bringing down the pacy visiting marksman.

A nervy tenth minute for Ledbury occurred when captain Matt Rooke couldn’t quite prevent a cross being fed in from the corner flag, with a slight deflection off Curt Williams on the goal-line seeing Zak Bonfield palm the ball off for a corner. The set-piece was again deflected by Bonfield to be nodded over the bar by an opposing forward under pressure from the Town defence.

Some great 20thminute work from George Walker on the near wing ended with the Ledbury youngster being fouled, providing three opportunities for Town to take the lead in rapid succession as the well-taken free kick from Miller saw Boyle miss the attempted diving header, with Burns striking the post as Ince volleyed the ball into the back of an opposing defender on the follow-up.

Bonfield then recovered a cross from the corner flag, with the half-hour mark seeing Ince hit the side-netting as Taylor performed a good defensive header back across field to provide Bonfield with a comfortable save.

The busy visiting keeper made another good save to palm a more threatening Holme Lacy effort away, before the trio of Burns, Boyle and Ince once again all had chances denied. Ledbury’s agony continued as Tom Trigg missed out on a header at the near post which would have finished a 38thminute corner, before Boyle went on the run, only to knock the ball wide of the near post five minutes later as Town retired to the changing room for the interval.

Like the dull and chilly weather, things didn’t brighten up going into the second period for the visiting outfit as Pete Jeynes received a yellow card for a late challenge, before Merrick decided to switch his squad up by bringing Williams and Walker off for Chris Wickham and Alistair to make 50thminute appearances.

After Holme Lacy picked up their first booking for a foul, with Burns again being flagged offside in a contentious manner, the temperature was turned up to eleven when the hosts received a second booking in the space of four minutes for another ill-advised challenge. Calls for calm worked as the game continued, as did Ledbury’s anguish as two consecutive corner balls saw Boyle connect with the header only to see the ball bounce off the far post, while an effort from Trigg receiving the ball from the second set-piece was blocked by a defender.

Holme Lacy’s third yellow card came through felling Burns, with the home assailant being lucky not to give away a penalty as the contact was made just outside the box to send the Town striker flying into it, as the free kick from Boyle was palmed away by the keeper. Ince then raced away on the break as the woodwork may just as well have been a twelfth man for the opposition that afternoon as it again denied the strike, before a quickly-taken corner ball from Boyle to Miller saw the former Westfields striker put the ball wide.

Miller committed a foul of his own for a second yellow card for the visitors on the 70thminute, before volleying wide a further great cross from Boyle as the goals continued to elude both players, as Boyle’s later direct shot was saved after Ince managed to get the ball to his team-mate.

Sam Branch entering the fray for Burns with ten minutes left, before Bonfield managed to catch a free kick and then Chris Wickham became the latest Ledbury player to be denied by the stubborn far post.

Concluding heated moments prompted Fairclough to show a pair of yellow cards as the single point taken from this ill-tempered affair was no doubt far more valued by the hosts in keeping them off the foot of the league table away from Shobdon than it was to a despondent visiting outfit, who had experienced quite the comedown from the fairy tale ending of Wednesday night.

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Ledbury Town v Lads Club

Ledbury players celebrate after Tom Boyle completes his brace and scores his side’s fifth goal through finishing a 70th minute cross from Nathan Ince on the far wing (📸: Chris Ponter)

Ledbury Town pulled off a stunning upset during the opening round of this season’s Herefordshire FA County Challenge Cup, dismantling defending title holders Hereford Lads Club with an emphatic 6-0 victory, during a remarkable ninety minutes which will live long in the memory.

All the superlatives in the book could not have done Ian Merrick’s triumphant squad justice on the night, putting in a near-perfect all-round team performance to thoroughly take apart a side competing two leagues above them in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division, as Nathan Ince stormed down the near wing barely a minute into the encounter against a seemingly complacent and napping Lads Club outfit to fire home an exquisite cross-shot to take the lead almost instantly.

Town maintained their all-out assault on the visitors’ goal to see Scott Roberts nod the ball home following a deflection off the four-man wall standing up to Tom Boyle’s 22nd minute free kick, and although there were signs during the opening quarter-hour of the second period that the city-based side were starting to regroup, this was swiftly undone when Josh Burns and Boyle found the net within two minutes of each other.

The remaining twenty minutes belonged firmly to the hosts, not needing the advantage of playing downhill to continue the fairy tale as both of the aforementioned Ledbury target men went on to complete braces.

Ince followed his opening thunderbolt by nearly finding a second goal barely four minutes later when his long ball from the opposite wing bounced just shy of the near post, before it was only through the laws of physics seemingly being bent that Burns was denied slipping the ball in on the tenth minute through a combination of opposing keeper and captain Steve Bell and the woodwork somehow managing to prevent the ball from sneaking over the line.

A promising cross from Boyle on the quarter-hour mark was deflected by the defender standing in front of both the goal and Ben Febery, before Roberts’ bullet header was followed by Town captain Matt Rooke making a solid deflection.

It took until the 33rdminute for Lads Club to truly threaten with an effort which flew fairly close across the front of goal, before Boyle was blocked by a defender before he had the opportunity to produce the shot back downfield.

Febery was brought down just outside the box as the young striker went on to knock the free kick well over the bar, before man of the match for Ledbury that night Lewis Skyers, who, partnered with his strong defence, could take much of the credit for keeping the visitors’ tally at nil that evening through producing many quality saves, punched away a spot kick struck past Burns, Roberts, Ben Miller and Boyle forming the Town wall.

A massive goal kick from Skyers, standing in for regular goaltender Joshua Worrell, then reached Boyle on the edge of the box as the prolific home striker knocked the ball on past Bell and only just wide of the far post, before a satisfied Ledbury outfit retired to the changing room over the interval in the knowledge that a major upset could be on the cards should they maintain their stunning momentum.

It became clear that the security of a third goal was needed going into the latter half of play as Skyers was soon called upon to make the save in what was an early clear goalscoring opportunity for the blue and white shirts, as Tom Trigg was required to make a decisive clearance in order to keep the opposition out.

A terrific header from Rooke dealt with an awkward cross from the far wing which could have otherwise caused problems for Merrick’s men, before Cameron Godsall picked up the first of two Lads Club bookings that evening from referee James Lewis for a heavy challenge against Febery a few yards outside the box.

A 55th minute free kick from Dale Taylor landed in the hands of Bell as things started to become rather more heated, with the visitors making their protestations clear over a further foul given Town’s way towards the near sideline, as the Hereford-based squad then chose to make a double substitution as Godsall and Thomas Bendall left the field in exchange for Dean Lee and Glenn Segust.

A free kick was struck over the three-man home wall to bounce off the top netting as Pete Jeynes came on to replace Dwayne Tyndale in a first Ledbury substitution, with Trigg putting in some excellent defensive work to both header and deflect a further free kick from the opposition as Jeynes made the final clearance from the touchline.

Febery nodded a third consecutive Lads Club free kick over the woodwork as half an hour remained for the visitors to salvage their game, with Rooke performing another good block just outside the box as Trigg displayed a fantastic burst of speed in order to chase down an opposing striker for Jeynes to again make the deflection.

For a moment on the 63rdminute, it looked as if Lads Club might have let themselves back in the game when Skyers dived for but couldn’t quite reach a ball travelling under the top corner of the frame, with cheers around the ground being just as loud as if Town had struck the net when the potential sole consolation goal for the visitors was disallowed on the grounds of an offside flag being shown by assistant referee James Cairns.

An expertly-timed challenge from Jeynes in the box was followed by a painful-sounding deflection off the thigh of a stubborn Taylor to send the ball over the touchline as the home defence continued to hold strong, before Ledbury more than addressed their need for a three-goal buffer when Burns and Boyle both found the net in quick succession.

A threatening 70thminute strike from a galvanized Boyle was then saved, only for the goal-hungry striker to finish a cross from Ince to send Town’s total to an unprecedented five, with Taylor then managing to slide in and deflect the ball just shy of the target back downfield as the resulting corner ball was safely caught by Skyers above the swarm of players beneath him in the box.

The 75thminute proved the most controversial of the game as Oliver Price picked up a yellow card for his struggling side, with Lewis even seeing fit to walk over and have words with an aggrieved away manager, before hot Hereford tempers continued to be evident when Burns was felled through a poor challenge.

A great save from Skyers saw Trigg again being on hand make the clearance, before the substitute home keeper went on to block an effort with his feet before pulling off what was undoubtedly the save of the game, showing cat-like reactions in leaping to palm the ball over the bar to triumphant shouts from the bumper crowd of increasingly excited Ledbury supporters.

The ensuing corner ball was put just wide of the far post as the blue and white shirts faced the unfeasibly tall order of finding five goals in ten minutes if the game was to be taken to extra time, made all the more impossible when a thirty-yard strike from Burns entered the net past a static Bell to see Town’s opponents quite literally hit for six.

Febery stopped a late sustained run from a Lads Club marksman as Ince and Roberts left the field at a job well done for Chris Wickham and Curt Williams to play the remaining couple of minutes, as some good late further defensive work from Febery saw Skyers perform one final impressive save to see Merrick’s stellar squad sail through to the quarter-finals, at home once more to Hereford Pegasus FC on a date still to be announced.

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Hartpury University vs Ledbury Town

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 65th 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 25thminute 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 53rdminute 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 72ndminute, producing a great finish despite Worrell’s best efforts in stopping the ball on the ground.

Bissett then scored the final goal on the 85thminute 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.

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Ledbury Town v Wellington Rangers

Tom Boyle swings in a freekick (📷:Chris Ponter).

Ledbury Town maintained their extraordinary start to the season with a 6-1 home hammering of Wellington Rangers to return to the top of the Herefordshire FA County League Premier Division. 

Six different goalscorers were on target, with Ledbury going 3-0 up after barely a quarter-hour of play courtesy of goals from Tom Boyle, Town man of the match that afternoon Ben Febery and Tom Trigg, with Scott Roberts, Nathan Ince and Josh Burns all finding the net within thirteen minutes of each other during a second period which saw the hosts remain dominant playing uphill.

Town didn’t leave the encounter unscathed however, with keeper Joshua Worrell having to be replaced by Ince late in the game after suffering a blow to the head on the ground as it took 78 minutes for Wellington to claw a single consolatory goal from the affair.

Boyle’s opener after just five minutes was followed by an exemplary free kick from Febery making it past the five-man wall of Rangers defenders to land in the bottom corner of the net, before Febery’s fifteenth-minute corner was finished by a Trigg sliding into the box as the opportunistic home defender sensed a prime gap in the visiting defensive structure.

The following quarter-hour witnessed a sustained Ledbury assault on the opposing goal as a cross from Ince was just missed by Boyle in the box. Both Burns and Boyle saw several chances to pull further goals ahead go astray through a combination of good work from Rangers goalkeeper Gonzalo Cruz and the woodwork.

The half-hour mark saw Ince being thwarted twice running down the wing, before seeing what would have been a fine consolation goal denied through nodding the ball just wide of the target from a Febery corner, before the visitors truly threatened for the first time when a close shot across the goalmouth saw the follow-up effort being blocked by Trigg.

One final opportunity for Town went begging as a terrific cross from Burns way out on the far wing saw Ince scuff the ball to clip the near post.

Dwayne Tyndale was swapped for Pete Jeynes over the break as goals from Roberts and Ince swiftly followed, with the latter Ledbury goalscorer just missing out on a brace moments later after doing well to get a boot to the ball before striking it narrowly wide of the target.

Worrell timed a dive well to retrieve the ball from both Rooke and an opposing attacker on the ground as Burns then found what was to be his side’s sixth and final goal off a 60thminute cross-shot from the near wing, before the ensuing five minutes saw three substitutions as Burns, Ince and Febery all left the action in exchange for Curt Williams, George Walker and Asten Griffiths.

Strong defensive work from Dale Taylor on the near wing saw Griffiths rush in with Trigg to deflect the ball over the touchline for a Wellington corner, which was quickly dealt with via a defensive header from Taylor as a 25-yard Rangers effort then sailed well over the bar.

Walker put in a good amount of work upfield only to see his 75thminute effort foiled by a visiting defender, as Chris Wickham then ran in to slot the ball just shy of the far post. Boyle went off for Charlie Docherty to make a late appearance in what was an intended final Town substitution, even if things didn’t go quite according to plan for the black and white shirts as, following Walker being judged to have committed a foul towards the near wing, a free kick was put past the dual wall of Griffiths and Taylor to rebound off Worrell, with Matthew Williams putting away the rebound although not without Worrell suffering a head injury in the process, deeming it necessary for Ince to don the keeper’s shirt for the remainder of the encounter.

The stand-in home keeper made a good save to stop one final free kick resulting from a further foul committed by Walker to see the Merrick’s men reclaim the top spot in the league, recording a stunning 25 goals scored in just four league games and one cup game.

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