Season: 2022-23

Tenbury United v Ledbury Town

Captain Joel Skyers triumphantly raises the trophy surrounded by (from left to right) Tom Trigg, Tom Boyle, Ben Febery, Nathan Ince, Lewis Williams and Ben Miller after Ledbury Town’s 5-4 win on penalties over Tenbury United to win the 2022/23 Herefordshire FA Charity Bowl competition (📸: Chris Ponter)

After a crushing last-minute equalizer from Welland goalkeeper Daniel Hughes caused Ledbury Town to miss out on the 2022/23 Herefordshire Football League Premier Division title by a single point, with a conclusive final 6-1 victory for Sporting Club Inkberrow away at Holme Lacy confirming their name on the silverware at the climax of their very first season in the league, Ian Merrick’s men managed to ease a disappointing end to an otherwise stellar season through lifting the Herefordshire FA Charity Bowl with a 5-4 win on penalties over Tenbury United at the Herefordshire FA County Ground.

It had been four years since the New Street outfit last acquired the trophy, when an 81st minute winner from final substitute player Charlie Docherty secured a memorable 3-2 win over Holme Lacy at Westfields’ allpay.park ground following first-half goals from Joe Bullock and Samuel Palmer-Young as their opponents launched an impressive latter half comeback with both Jean Alveraz and Jay Spencer finding the target, with Ledbury also losing out 3-1 in the final at the County Ground last May against Hereford Pegasus Reserves when a Harvey Evans opener and Saul Thomas brace outnumbered the sole Town consolation goal scored by youngster George Walker.

Ledbury man of the match in this latest final under the floodlights Josh Burns put his side in a controlling position come the interval on this occasion through finding a first-half brace, only for the second period to be a very different story as a combination of superior Tenbury fitness levels and Town taking their foot of the gas allowed Michael Wood to grab a goal back eight minutes from the break.

Nerves of New Street supporters were tested to breaking point as a failure to clear the ball out of the box, in scenes horribly reminiscent of the aforementioned fateful corner set-piece which ultimately cost Ledbury the league trophy at the Upton Hill Community Centre just under a fortnight ago, saw Jamie Mason slot the ball underneath Town goalkeeper Alex Goode to level the score at the eleventh hour.

With United being on a high and in the driving seat had the affair been taken to extra time, it was perhaps to Ledbury’s benefit that the Charity Bowl format took the affair straight through to a penalty shootout, with Merrick’s squad being able to draw some confidence from the fact that they had already secured a first-round 3-1 victory on penalties over reigning champions Pegasus Reserves at Old School Lane back in late September, when Ryan Pugh, Zac Blood and Ben Febery all netted their spot kicks following an earlier brace scored by man of the match Tom Boyle with an additional goal from Febery.

Although Tenbury made Town work by putting their first four attempts past Goode, Ben Miller, Rares Micula, Febery and Boyle all maintained a perfect scorecard for the black and white shirts before an adrenaline-fuelled ball over the bar from an unfortunate opposing striker opened the door for Burns to fittingly finish the job to euphoric Ledbury celebrations.

A night of drama began in dry conditions on the 3G surface as United committed an opening foul barely a minute after referee for the occasion Adrian Rocke had blown the starting whistle, bringing down Lewis Williams on a run down the far wing before a significantly cleaner challenge from the Worcestershire-based outfit against the same Town attacker on the opposite wing won them back possession.

Early chances for Ledbury’s forwards, with Boyle, Williams and Miller in the mix in a crowded opposition box saw a follow-up shot from Burns being blocked by the Tenbury defence, before Town captain Joel Skyers was sent crashing down by a fifth minute late challenge from United on the near wing, leaving the pitch briefly with physio Carl Wildig to receive treatment in the dugout.

The resulting free kick was struck by Miller to curl into a clearing header from an opposing defender leaping up with his team-mate against Febery at the far corner of the box, before Boyle’s tenth minute spot kick after Febery was felled only inches outside the area made it past the quartet of Tenbury defenders forming the wall to provide their keeper with a relatively easy save.

A first attempt at the target from United back across field travelled wide of the far post, before nervy times for Ledbury at fifteen minutes in saw Goode forced to scramble in order to recover the ball on the line.

Rocke ignored a handball appeal against Boyle in the centre-circle, allowing the top Town marksman with 24 goals to his name this season, finishing third in the Herefordshire League Premier Division’s top goalscorer stakes five behind Declan Bright of Inkberrow in second and eight behind Clee Hill United’s Josh Bowen at the top, to cross the ball over to Burns who was foiled by an opposing defender on the near side of the box.

A strong Tenbury defence again took possession from Williams down the near sideline to deliver a superb ball downfield, before a 20th minute free kick was feigned by Rares Micula only to see Miller fire the set-piece well over the crossbar.

A corner ball from the same Ledbury striker was then fed back in from the near post however by Febery to allow his team-mate to nod the ball into the opposite side of the net to open his side’s account to a jubilant team huddle, before controversy occurred when the United goaltender rushed out to collide with Burns as Rocke turned a blind eye to the apparent obstruction.

A thirty-yard free kick from the blue and yellow shirts was curled and headed harmlessly wide of the near post, with Goode performing a well-timed header to keep the opposition at bay as a superb cross from Burns just outside the near edge of the box back across field was nodded clear from Boyle lying in wait at the opposite post by another member of the Tenbury back-line.

A further corner ball from Miller was played out to see a United player lunge out to keep the ball away from both Tom Trigg and Rares Micula a few yards outside the box, before Burns extended his side’s lead from a short back-pass, taking the ball round an opposing keeper who managed to get a palm to the ball from the ground, before the Town winger recovered the ball and slotted it home before a desperate Tenbury defender could prevent it from sneaking over the line.

Williams left it just that little bit too late to pull the trigger in the box as Rocke waved aside Ledbury protests when Rares Micula was brought down just inside the edge of the area, with Boyle sportingly throwing the ball back to the United goaltender from the near sideline as the opposition dealt with a 40th minute injury.

Burns volleyed the ball wide of the far post as a first-half hat-trick continued to elude him, before a 50/50 challenge involving Skyers and an opposing forward on the near wing saw Tenbury being given their final free kick of the first period which was deflected by Cosmin Micula and then cleared away by Burns.

Town’s brace-scorer that night then embarked on a strong late run down the near wing, ending with him losing his footing against a pursuing defender and taking a tumble, before one last spot kick of the opening half of play was struck by Skyers over another four-man United wall to soar narrowly wide of the near post.

With the heavens beginning to open over the interval, Tenbury were now looking for some divine intervention as they were forced to substitute an injured player almost immediately into the latter half of play, as an opening effort from Febery sent the ball behind the netting.

Two United forwards failed to gain control of a bouncing ball in the box back up the other end to allow Ledbury to clear the danger away, before the blue and yellow shirts fired the ball just shy of the woodwork in a stark warning to Town that they could not afford to rest on their laurels even with a two-goal advantage.

Sure enough, as foul and offside protests from Ledbury followers saw assistant referee Stuart Buchanan refuse to raise the flag from the far sideline, the Worcestershire side were able to halve their deficit in taking the ball past Goode and find the net, as a Town thunderbolt from towards the far wing in reply back upfield was denied only through a fantastic diving save from the opposing keeper.

A retaliatory Tenbury run through midfield was eventually halted by the ever-reliable Trigg, before a drop ball from Rocke saw Skyers volley clear a United cross as half an hour remained for the New Street outfit to either hold on to or extend their now-fragile lead under the easing rain.

A further Ledbury corner ball was sent wide by a group of players from both teams at the near post with Febery and Rares Micula in the fray, before Nathan Ince entered the action in exchange for Williams in what would be the only Town substitution made that evening.

Trademark fancy footwork from Boyle against a number of defenders along the edge of the box saw his strike being fumbled by the opposing goaltender, with the ball slipping underneath his legs although with other assistant referee Chris Stansbury not judging the leather to have made it over the line.

The next couple of minutes witnessed both teams missing volleys from their respective near posts from corner balls, before a frantic prolonged scramble involving a swarm of players in the Tenbury box saw the ball somehow being eventually cleared.

The United keeper pulled off another impressive one-handed diving save to deflect a further threatening 75th minute Ledbury strike, before a further injury saw more commendable sportsmanship from the black and white shirts in delivering the ball back to their opponents.

Skyers’ free kick with ten minutes left on the clock was easily defended by Tenbury as the Town skipper went on to make a solid defensive move in the semi-circle back across field, before receiving the only yellow card of the game for a late challenge as the ensuing spot kick from United forced Goode into a diving save.

Good pressure from the Ledbury defence caused an opposing striker to fire the ball well over the bar, before Mason took full advantage of Town’s failure to remove the danger from their box, seizing possession and putting the ball underneath a diving Goode at the near post to restore the stalemate with just three minutes remaining.

Ledbury fans were left aghast as it became clear that the outcome would be decided by the lottery of penalties, but as the opposition continued to find the net, Town kept pace before Tenbury’s final fatal slip-up allowed Burns to strike gold as raucous celebrations of joy followed from Ledbury players, management and supporters alike.

Chairman Pete Boyle joined his victorious squad in lifting such a valuable consolation prize, as Ethan Fish took the man of the match accolade for United.

Boyle then summed up what had been an extraordinary rollercoaster of a season for Ledbury Town Football Club full of drama, disappointment and triumph, as well as showing huge appreciation for the club’s dedicated fanbase:

“Wow – what a wild season! Our new committee started our second season at the club with a sense of pride after what was a great 2021-2022 season, finishing runners-up only to outstanding newcomers Hartpury University, but this season has been even better.”

“We have managed to field three teams this season with no cancellations, which many teams struggle to do. This is testament to our lads’ attitude and commitment to the club.”

“Each team has progressed again this season, with our third Swifts team enabling many young players to compete in their first season of adult football in Division Two of the Herefordshire Football League. With a new Under 18s side joining us next season, this development of future talent at the club will only become stronger.”

“After a slow start, our reserves side managed to finish another season in Division One in a solid manner, finishing exactly mid-table and making it to the semi-finals of the Herefordshire FA Junior Cup competition, only being denied a final against Shobdon at the County Ground through a close 2-1 defeat against Wellington Colts at home in tough conditions.”

“We have even had the chance to offer those players who have excelled with the thirds the opportunity to step up and play for our second side. I am confident that 2023/24 will be the strongest season yet for our reserves; they are a talented group of lads who on their day are one of the best teams in their league.”

“Our first team were once again our flag-bearers however, and although we fell short at the final hurdle in being pipped to the league title by a single point by impressive newcomers Sporting Club Inkberrow FC, we managed to complete an entire season unbeaten at home which is an amazing achievement.”

“If we can retain the personnel we have, I am sure we will come close to or indeed win the league next season. After two seasons, we have finally managed to turn New Street into the fortress it always was when I watched football there as a child.”

“Ian, Scott, Sam and Carl are one of the strongest management teams in the county, and we are extremely lucky to have them. It felt brilliant to be able to reward and thank them with some silverware this season.”

“2023/2024 promises to be a very exciting year for Ledbury Town FC, with our new ground being in the final stages of its planning and development, and the club being in the strongest position it has been for quite some time.”

“Finally, I want to end by thanking our many fantastic supporters, who are undoubtedly the best in the county. We have had three-figure attendances at home games multiple times this season, and to take just as many away on several occasions makes it truly an honour to be chairman of a club that is so well-supported and loved by so many.”

“We appreciate you all – the club simply would not exist without you. Here’s to a thrilling and successful 2023/24 season!”

vs

Ledbury Town v Wellington Rangers

Ledbury Town manager Ian Merrick leads his valiant squad off the pitch at New Street for the final time this season, applauding their sizeable crowd of dedicated supporters as they miss out on the 2022/23 Herefordshire Football League Premier Division title by a single point (📸: Chris Ponter)

Ledbury Town ended the 2022/23 Herefordshire Football League Premier Division season with the very definition of ‘bittersweet’, defeating Wellington Rangers 3-0 in a final rearranged league encounter of the season at a packed-out New Street on Coronation Day, although being left to rue what could have been as formidable league newcomers Sporting Club Inkberrow scored a comprehensive win away at Holme Lacy to take the league title from Ian Merrick’s men by a single point.

After last weekend’s crushing equalizer scored by goalkeeper Daniel Hughes at the end of Ledbury’s dramatic penultimate league clash of the season against mid-table Welland at the Upton Hill Community Centre, following first-half Town goals from Rares Micula and Tom Boyle with James Lush and Sean Smith on target for the hosts as Williams found what visiting supporters believed to be their winner on the 67th minute, only for hearts to be broken thirty seconds from time, the likelihood was that Merrick’s squad had effectively shot themselves in the foot in terms of taking the silverware.

While not impossible, a second victory of the season over Wellington, after a Ben Febery brace and a goal from Ryan Pugh, sadly suffered a season-ending dislocated shoulder during the second period of the same game secured Ledbury’s first win of 2023 over at The Kensal Ground in early February, had to be accompanied by Inkberrow either losing or drawing in their final league fixture played that same day at an earlier kick-off time if Town were to pull off an unexpected turnaround.

In fact for a very brief period there was the slightest flicker of hope as news filtered through of Holme Lacy grabbing a goal back to make it 2-1 at half-time at their village-based ground, with Ben Miller and Febery both having found the net during the first period of a fixture which had to take place more than a month after its original date due to a waterlogged pitch at New Street at the very end of March.

Despite home man of the match Tyler Weir later going on to cement a final three points for his side, it soon became clear that Merrick’s valiant squad were going to have to settle for the runners-up spot for a second consecutive season as reports reached the glum faces of the Ledbury committee that the other title contenders had triumphed 6-1 to become champions.

Watched by a terrific turnout of supporters in spite of the ongoing royal celebrations and gloomy weather that day, a last league encounter for the black and white shirts began with their tangerine and blue counterparts providing the early scare, putting the ball just wide of the target as Town keeper Alex Goode voiced his frustration.

Tensions were soon eased when Miller volleyed home a superb cross from Lewis Williams to take the lead at just eight minutes in, with two home players coming down injured over the course of the next five minutes although with both being able to continue playing.

Cosmin Micula nodded clear an opening Rangers free kick struck from near the centre-spot, before a first corner ball from the visitors was punched clear by Goode on the 20th minute, with the same new Ledbury signing this season again being on hand to make the follow-up clearance.

The opposition launched a sustained counter-attack following the set-piece which concluded with Goode making a relatively comfortable collection at the near post, before a corner from Miller up at the far end was headed over the near touchline by a Wellington defender before Town’s forwards could do anything with it.

A defensive error from the hosts on the far wing back downfield nearly allowed Rangers to draw level if not for Goode scrambling off his line to successfully recover the ball in a one-on-one situation with a visiting striker, before Febery came on for Matt Tristram in a first Ledbury substitution of the day.

A solid challenge from Town captain Joel Skyers on the half-hour mark won a free kick for Goode towards the far sideline, before a rush of adrenaline from Williams saw him make a great run up the same wing, only to fire the ball over the crossbar.

Febery saw more success barely two minutes later, volleying home beautifully to a jubilant celebration with Merrick, before a superb header from Williams was denied only through an equally-superb save from the opposing keeper in leaping up to palm the ball just over the bar.

Febery battled doggedly on the near sideline to win the ball against two Wellington attackers, only for one of them to trip the latest home goalscorer up in the process of playing the ball back upfield as assistant referee Geoff Banham gave a Rangers foul, raising the flag again soon afterwards for an offside infringement committed by the visitors as another of their efforts travelled wide of the woodwork.

Williams became involved in a spot of argy-bargy with an opposing midfielder in the centre of the pitch as the match started to become that little bit more heated under the light rainfall, boiling over into a first yellow card of the game received by Skyers for a physical challenge on the far wing.

Goode performed a much cleaner challenge of his own in the box to deny a Wellington attacker of a late first-half goalscoring opportunity, as a final corner ball of the opening period of play from Rangers also failed to provide them with a badly-needed first mark on the scoresheet.

With Ledbury’s players clearly eager to get this concluding league encounter of the season wrapped up, emerging back out on to the field well before the visitors unaware that the league title was now all but out of their reach with Inkberrow having surged 5-1 ahead at Holme Lacy, the second period saw Boyle go straight for goal from the off as his long-range effort snuck only narrowly wide of the far post.

A free kick from the top Town goalscorer, looking likely to take the third place spot in the league’s top marksmen table this season four goals behind Declan Green of Inkberrow in second and six behind Josh Bowen of Clee Hill United at the top, provided the opposing goaltender with an easy recovery at the near post, before a more threatening strike from the hosts was blocked by both palms of the Wellington keeper.

An opening free kick of the second period from Rangers again met the defensive head of Cosmin Micula, as some commendable Ledbury defending further upfield saw Goode charge out to claim the ball on the ground.

Merrick chose to bring both Skyers and Williams off the field in exchange for a returning Tristram as well as Nathan Ince while an injury to one his players was tended to by physio Carl Wildig, before the latter of these two substitute players soon made his presence on the pitch felt through putting good pressure on a visiting forward advancing down the near wing.

Boyle rattled the far post to see a potential 25th goal of the season go begging, before a very-much-unlucky thirteenth minute of the latter half of play for Rares Micula saw him fire the ball against the back of an opposing defender in painful-sounding fashion at the edge of the box.

Ince performed a cross-shot in plenty of space coming down the near wing which flew wide of the far post, and, after Miller was swapped for Josh Burns with half an hour to go, recent Town newcomer Dean Lee leapt up against a Wellington defender in the box as Burns’ corner ball struck barely a minute after he entered the action skimmed the top of both their heads.

Burns voiced his disapproval at Banham over the linesman raising his flag in favour of Rangers as the latest home substitute player dug in against one of their defenders on the near sideline, before Weir picked up a second booking for his side over his part in a brief fracas between the two teams in the centre-circle.

A corner ball from Cosmin Micula was dealt with through a clearing header from a visiting defender surrounded by bodies in the box, before Ince tried his luck in lunging in against the opposing goaltender as the Wellington keeper went on to make a fairly simple save with fifteen minutes left on the clock for his side to salvage something from their second-to-last game of the season.

A further spot kick from Boyle was easily blocked by the Rangers defensive line stationed a few yards from the edge of the box, before a good ball from the prolific Ledbury striker was neatly flicked on to Ince by Weir to see the shot from the reserves-turned regular first team player this season being caught by the visiting goaltender.

Boyle then squandered three final consecutive chances to net a quarter-century of league goals this season, putting the ball wide of the far post after receiving it from Ince who won back possession in front of his own dugout, before Rares Micula ran in from behind an opposing defender and successfully intercepted him to again pass the ball on to the top Town target man, whose tap-in was denied by the Wellington keeper.

Boyle then knocked the ball inches over the woodwork in the process of a Rangers defender sliding in against him after he received a neat back-pass from Weir, before the assisting player himself gained the honour of scoring his side’s final league goal of the season, beating the visiting goaltender and slotting the ball squarely into the bottom right-hand corner of the net as protests from an aggrieved defender, believing Weir had been offside at the time, were ignored by Banham.

Ince was forced to blast the ball over the bar as he was put under similar pressure to Boyle earlier in being brought down right in front of goal, before a final corner ball of the game was mis-struck by Cosmin Micula into the side netting.

Tristram’s last throw-in after the ball had deflected off the shoulder of Banham was soon followed by referee Mark Hays blowing the full-time whistle, as Merrick and his staff and players applauded their dedicated and lively crowd of supporters during one last emotional exit from their historic ground this season.

The Ledbury boss had much praise for the many followers who have stuck by his side throughout a fantastic season in spite of the bitter disappointment of being pipped to the league title, recording a 100% home win record with 23 victories in total and just three losses:

“To all our supporters, I wish to say thank you for your unwavering support this season.”

“To miss out on the league title by a single point is painful, but the lads have been fantastic all season. Football is ultimately about fine margins, and unfortunately on this occasion we’ve just fallen short.”

“Congratulations to Sporting Club Inkberrow FC, who are deserving champions this season.”

Town’s quest for silverware this season is far from over however, having to now swiftly switch their focus to a very real chance of lifting a thoroughly well-deserved and fitting consolation prize in the shape of the Herefordshire FA Charity Bowl cup, facing mid-table Tenbury United in the final at the Herefordshire FA County Ground this coming Wednesday evening (KO 7:45pm).

A supporters’ coach will be leaving New Street at 6:00pm, with the clubhouse opening from 5:00pm. Anyone wishing to travel with the team are invited to contact club chairman Pete Boyle on 07415 114664 as soon as possible, as places are now very limited. Seats are charged at £5.00 each.

This will be Ledbury’s third Charity Bowl final in the space of four years, having last won the cup back in April 2019 under the joint-management of Dean Rutter and Pat Locke, when an 81st minute winner from final substitute player Charlie Docherty secured a memorable 3-2 victory over Holme Lacy at Westfields’ allpay.park venue, following first-half goals from Joe Bullock and Samuel Palmer-Young as Holme Lacy launched an impressive second-half comeback with goals from Jean Alveraz and Jay Spencer.

Town’s previous final in the same competition ended in disappointment in May last season at the County Ground against Hereford Pegasus Reserves, when a Harvey Evans opener and Saul Thomas brace outnumbered the sole consolation goal for Merrick’s side scored by youngster George Walker.

The first round of this season’s contest was quite a tussle for Ledbury against none other than reigning champions Pegasus back in late September, during an eventful Friday evening rematch taken to penalties when a brace from Town man of the match Boyle and a further goal from Febery equalled the Reserves’ marks on the scoresheet scored by Corey Ellis, Evans and substitute player Charlie Jenkins.

A volatile encounter at Old School Lane saw home defender Marc Avery receive a double-booking with Boyle and team-mate Zac Blood also being shown yellow cards by referee Ian Jervis, even if the visitors ran away during the shootout when Pugh, Blood and Febery all put away their spot kicks as some stellar saves from Goode effectively avenged the 3-1 defeat in the previous final.

The New Street outfit received a home walkover in the quarter-finals in late November when Ludlow Town Colts failed to raise a side, before a 2-0 semi-final victory occurred at home over Clee Hill in early March when Rares Micula found the net from an eighth minute corner ball, even if the Ledbury newcomer this season was shown yellow by referee Stephen Cook ten minutes from time.

Young visiting defender Freddie Barnes put away an unfortunate own goal past keeper Joe Whiteway five minutes from the interval, as Tom Watkins and Tom Trigg shared the man of the match accolade for a superb defensive shift between them to keep a clean sheet by the end of this penultimate cup encounter.

Tenbury’s road to the final featured a 2-0 win in the opening round away to Welland the day after Town played Pegasus, courtesy of goals from Matt Kerby and Aaron Morris, even if team-mate Thomas Farr received a booking with Gavin Podmore being sent off by Cook for a incurring a double yellow.

A 2-1 quarter-final victory resulted at the County Ground in mid-January against Herefordshire League Premier Division newcomers Gloucester City Under 21s, with Declan Bright and substitute player Euan Morgan netting for United as Thierry Shitto found the consolation goal for the young Gloucester side.

Finally, the Palmers Meadow outfit booked their place in the final stage of the contest through a comprehensive 4-0 win over other league newcomers Coppertops FC at home on the same afternoon Ledbury faced Clee Hill in the semi-finals, with the Tenbury goals coming from Bright, Morgan, Morris and Kerby, coming on as a substitute for United on this occasion.

vs

Ledbury Town Reserves v Ewyas Harold

Ledbury Town Reserves concluded their latest season in Division One of the Herefordshire Football League with a second defeat of the season against league runners-up Ewyas Harold at New Street.

David Butcher and Harry Powell’s side had hoped to end their latest campaign with revenge over the Welsh border outfit, having been dealt two defeats by them in being knocked out of the first round of the Ross Cup in a muddy midweek encounter under the floodlights at New Street in mid-October, when a Luke Price brace and additional goal from Matthew Norton overcame the 40th minute opener from Kieran Loveridge and very late goal from Ledbury man of the match Alistair Holder, with a second 2-1 loss resulting at Ewyas Harold’s ground on Bonfire Night with Dave Preece found the consolation goal as Norton and Price again netted for the hosts.

Man of the match Morgan Skidmore this time found the only goal for Town’s second string as the visitors later went on to find the net three times, with Butcher being disappointed over the result but still hopeful for the 2023/24 season:

“It was unfortunately not the result we wanted to end the season with. We will regroup however over the off-season, and go again to hopefully do better next season.”

After an unlucky start to the season with winnable draws at home to Shobdon in mid-September and away to Hereford Pegasus Colts in mid-October, the reserves can take solace in having finished the league in fifth place, exactly mid-table a healthy eight points clear of both Kington Town Reserves and Bartestree beneath them, with the Mill Street outfit having incurred a three-point deduction for non-fulfilment of an away fixture against Ewyas Harold towards the end of February.

Despite an early exit from the Ross Cup, Butcher and Powell’s squad also managed to make it to the penultimate stage of this season’s Herefordshire FA Junior Cup competition, only being undone by a 2-1 defeat to Wellington Colts at New Street back in February after a confident 4-0 victory over Hinton Reserves at Broomy Hill in the opening round at the start of October, a dramatic 4-1 win on penalties over Leominster Town in the second round at home in mid-January when the scoreline stood at four goals apiece even after 120 minutes of play, and a comfortable 5-0 win over league newcomers The Broadleys over at Credenhill in the quarter-finals at the end of January.

vs

Welland v Ledbury Town

Tom Boyle keeps the ball away from two opposing defenders just outside the box, before his 19th minute effort was fumbled by the home goalkeeper to see Josh Burns race in and fire the ball over the crossbar (📸: Chris Ponter)

Ledbury Town’s 2022/23 Herefordshire Football League Premier Division title hopes were placed in jeopardy this weekend, as a penultimate league clash of the season saw mid-table Welland break the hearts of Ledbury players, management and supporters alike with an equalizer from a corner ball with thirty seconds left on the clock, in a 3-3 draw which may as well have been a loss for Ian Merrick’s gutted side.

Off the back of a 2-1 midweek victory over Worcester United under the floodlights of the 3G pitch at the Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre just three days previously, when Josh Burns and top Ledbury goalscorer Tom Boyle found the required goals for the three points, Merrick’s men knew that, coupled with the immense amount of pressure on them in terms of what their next result meant, this final league away encounter of the season at the Upton Hill Community Centre was always going to be a challenging one.

Although already having a 4-1 home victory over Welland in their records this season, the win at New Street towards the end of September looked far from certain when a surprisingly poor opening 45 minutes from the hosts saw visiting striker James Lush score the second of two penalties given to his side during the first period by referee Ian Jervis, only for Town to launch a stellar second-half comeback with goals from Zac Blood, Joel Skyers, man of the match Burns and Ryan Pugh.

Adding to the tension was the fact that Ledbury’s last visit to the Upton ground back in mid-March last year ended in a shock 5-3 defeat – one of only five losses incurred by the black and white shirts last season as Welland lead 3-2 at half-time, with Mark Holbrow scoring twice before the half-hour mark as Sean Smith netted four minutes from the interval.

Smith completed his brace with Omar Elmougy finding the hosts’ fifth, outnumbering Boyle’s double and the additional goal for the New Street outfit scored by youngster George Walker.

Things started as brightly as the warm spring sunshine on the hottest day of the year so far for Ledbury during this latest meeting with Welland, as a truly magnificent one-touch volley from Rares Micula finished a superb 12th minute cross from Boyle in classy style, only for the yellow and blue shirts to find the net twice as the first period of play unfolded.

Just as if it looked like some noticeable midfield shortcomings, as well as a failure to make the most of set-pieces and other goalscoring chances would put them on a back-footing come the break, Boyle put his team back in the game on the final minute of the first period of play through lobbing the home goalkeeper, scoring his 24th goal of the season in the process and likely taking the third place spot this season in terms of the league’s top marksmen, below Declan Green of Sporting Club Inkberrow in second and Clee Hill United’s Josh Bowen one goal clear at the top.

Huge smiles were put back on the faces of visiting followers on the 67th minute when a Lewis Williams screamer hit the top right-hand corner of the net, as Town held out for the remainder of the ninety minutes with only stoppage time standing between them and a very good chance of winning the league.

With just half a minute to go, tragedy struck however when a failure to clear one final decisive corner ball from the opposition allowed their keeper, joining his team-mates upfront in the box for this concluding set-piece, to slip the ball home in sickening fashion for a devastated visiting side who are now fully reliant on formidable league newcomers and closest rivals Inkberrow failing to win their final two fixtures.

A dramatic affair began with assistant referee Simon Gibson raising an offside flag against Boyle to swiftly end an early second minute chance for the top Ledbury target man, before recent Town newcomer Dean Lee put a first effort for his side over the crossbar.

Welland’s first attempt to open their account travelled harmlessly wide of the top left-hand corner of the frame, before the visitors took an early lead through Micula’s beautiful volley as an opening free kick for the hosts struck by former Ledbury player Curt Williams hit the raised elbow of captain Skyers, forming the four-man wall with Boyle, Micula and Matt Tristram as handball appeals from the hosts were ignored by referee James Cairns.

Town received a stark warning when the second and third of three successive corner balls from the opposition saw the ball sneak narrowly wide of either post, before a golden chance for the visitors to double their lead, a missed opportunity which would become more and more significant as the game unfolded, went begging on the 19th minute when Boyle’s effort was fumbled by the Welland goaltender to see Burns race in and fire the ball over the crossbar.

Boyle did well to keep possession against several defenders just outside the near end of the box as his cross-shot provided the home keeper with a relatively easy save from the ground, before Lee raced in to pressure an opposing goal guardian who reached the ball first to make the clearance.

A throw-in from Skyers lead to a Welland defender volleying a further cross from Boyle well clear, as a strong home back-line continued to keep Town at bay through performing two powerful high clearances away from Burns and Boyle respectively over either sideline.

Skyers’ frustration over his team being unable to find at least a second goal by this point became very apparent when a 25th minute corner ball from Micula was nodded over the touchline by a defender stationed a couple of yards in front of Boyle in the box, with blood pressures of visiting supporters being done no favours when Ben Febery headed a further corner ball wide on the half-hour mark under pressure from a stubborn opposing defence.

A free kick from the Welland captain back across field was played wide to the far wing as one of their forwards was unable to recover the ball before it escaped over the touchline, with Stuart Buchanan raising the offside flag from the far sideline regardless.

A second spot kick taken by the home skipper in as many minutes proved far more fruitful for his side, being deflected only to be fed back in and finished with a great strike to level the score, as ten minutes of midfield tussling saw Boyle run in and volley the ball wide of the top right-hand corner of the woodwork while under pressure from an oncoming opposing goaltender.

Failure to find the vital two-goal buffer as the interval approached came back to bite Ledbury on the brink of the break when Welland found their second goal, only for the twists and turns to continue right up until Cairns’ half-time whistle when Goode’s free kick from the halfway line saw Boyle put the ball over the home keeper’s head to restore the deadlock.

Burns was swapped for Williams over the break as an opening free kick of the second period for the Worcestershire-based outfit was struck from their half of the field to see Tyler Weir and an opposing forward bring each other down in the box with Cairns seeing no cause to sanction either side, with the Town player going on to perform a solid clearing header while under pressure in midfield.

Boyle was again beaten to the ball by the Welland goaltender, who fired the ball away from the far corner of the box as Goode repaid the favour in cleanly catching a corner ball back up the other end in amongst the numerous bodies in the box.

A further free kick from the hosts following a late 56th minute challenge from Town just over the halfway line provided another sizeable scare for the visitors, being caught but then dropped by Goode before the quick-thinking Ledbury keeper did well to recover and then block the rebound attempt at very close range, as a final chipped ball off the bar from another opposing attacker saw Gibson raise the offside flag much to the relief of Town’s nervous fans.

The busy Welland goaltender again charged off his line to reach the ball first, this time from Micula as the visiting player brought down a defender in the process out of frustration even if Cairns chose to ignore the aggression, before a free kick from Ben Miller was squandered in being struck directly against the quartet of opposing defenders forming the well.

A second attempt from the Ledbury striker on the rebound was blocked by another member of the Welland back-line, finding Boyle whose own effort was denied by an obstinate home defence, before the village-based side chose to make a substitution as half an hour remained for either team to make the breakthrough.

Town continued to waste set-pieces, with Skyers’ free kick from towards the near corner flag being deflected off the dual wall in front of him as Boyle struck a further spot kick into the groin of the central of three players forming the defensive line, before Williams suddenly put his side back in the driving seat with his cracking strike from out of the blue.

Nathan Ince replaced Miller who fell injured on the halfway line on the 73rd minute as a valiant run from Williams down the far wing saw the opposing defence relieve him of possession before he could cross the ball to Lee lying in wait in the box.

A contentious final offside flag of the game from Buchanan against Boyle saw Williams and Ince again try to bring the ball down the far wing, again being foiled by a group of home defenders as a misplaced cross from the latter visiting substitute player found the feet of an opposing player in the box.

Welland picked up a yellow card for bringing down a furious Lee on the run, as Ledbury’s final free kick of many that afternoon was played to Boyle by Micula, only for his team-mate to be brought down towards the flag.

Solid play from Williams on the far sideline going into stoppage time then witnessed the conclusion to the match which Town dreaded, as the home goaltender of all opponents slotted in Welland’s pivotal end set-piece to a jubilant team huddle as raucous as if they had won the game.

Although theoretically still possible for Merrick’s men to lift the silverware, it would require a win against Wellington Rangers in their final league fixture at New Street this coming Saturday (KO 2:30pm) being accompanied by Inkberrow recording a draw at the very most to go with a victory in their remaining two games at home to Worcester United at Sands Lane on Wednesday night, and away to Holme Lacy on the same day Ledbury play Rangers.

Town can go into this final league encounter of the season in the knowledge that they scored their first victory of 2023 against Wellington at The Kensal Ground back in early February, courtesy of a second-half brace from Febery which followed a 20th minute opener from Pugh, who was sadly put out of action with a season-ending injury suffering a dislocated shoulder fifteen minutes into the second period.

Jordan Mann found the only consolation goal for the hosts in controversial circumstances eight minutes after Pugh had found the net, with Tom Trigg going on to pick up the man of the match accolade for Ledbury, as he did against Welland away for a solid defensive display throughout on both occasions.

vs

Worcester United v Ledbury Town

Tom Boyle regroups with Rares Micula and Dean Lee behind him and joint assistant coach Sam Dixon to the left after scoring the 70th minute winner (📸: Chris Ponter)

Ledbury Town took the first of three final steps towards securing the 2022/23 Herefordshire Football League Premier Division title this week, with a Wednesday evening victory over Worcester United under the floodlights of the 3G pitch at the Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre.

With an identical 2-1 win over Worcester at New Street under their belts in only the third league game of the season played back in late August, when the affair was essentially wrapped up by half-time with first period goals from Tom Boyle and Ryan Pugh being enough as the visitors could only manage a single consolation goal during the latter half of play courtesy of Joshua Lloyd, Ledbury’s latest clash against United was rather less clear-cut and much more dramatic.

Town’s opener on this occasion was scored eleven minutes in by Josh Burns, although not without the regular Ledbury forward injuring himself in the process, before disaster struck for the league leaders on the 25th minute, when Tyler Weir was judged to have handled the ball on the touchline to gift the hosts with a penalty which they successfully converted.

The real controversy was yet to come however, when referee Edgar Sanha disallowed a potential equalizer for the Worcestershire-based outfit shortly into the latter half of play through an offside flag being displayed by Pete Jeynes running the near sideline for the visitors.

A nail-biting remainder of the second half of play saw jubilation for Ledbury management and supporters when Boyle netted what would turn out to be the winner on the 70th minute.

An early scare for Town saw their opponents put an opening effort narrowly wide of the far post, before the Worcester goalkeeper left his line to claim the ball on the ground from Boyle.

A first free kick for United on the ninth minute was struck from towards the near sideline as visiting keeper Alex Goode, team-mate Ben Febery and the home captain all leapt up against each other, each missing the header as Goode raced to collect the ball afterwards on the bounce behind him.

Burns fired home his cracking opener from the far wing as he attempted to run off the leg injury incurred from the strike, before great control from Dean Lee on the near wing kept the ball away from the opposition to allow the recent Ledbury newcomer to produce a promising 25-yard effort which curled just wide of the top left-hand corner of the frame.

Town’s latest signing then fed a fantastic ball up from the same wing which bounced that little bit too far in front of visiting captain Joel Skyers in the box, before Burns managed to race away on the break two minutes later only to be flagged offside by the Worcester linesman.

Goode was called upon to punch clear a 19th minute corner ball, with Boyle eventually going on to make the clearance as the Ledbury management trio called for their players to wake up and up their game, before Burns succumbed to his earlier injury to be replaced by Nathan Ince in an earlier-than-expected substitution.

A free kick for United from thirty yards out was struck directly into a comfortable catch for Goode, with an effort from Boyle swiftly being saved by the home goaltender back across field as Weir committed the aforementioned handball offence while attempting to block a cross from an opposing attacker on the far wing.

Worcester managed to slip the ball in underneath Goode despite the valiant Town goaltender diving the correct way, as the half-hour mark saw a corner ball from Cosmin Micula being taken long to come off Febery wide of the far post in a missed chance for the visitors to quickly repair the damage done by the previous set-piece.

Hardworking Ledbury man of the match Tom Trigg advanced to make a good defensive block and clearance from a few yards outside his box, with Ince’s cross-shot from towards the near corner flag being seized by a United goaltender making another diving recovery.

Protests and calls for a booking from the Town management were ignored by Sanha when Febery was brought down in midfield, before a second corner set-piece from Micula was sent straight into the gloves of the home keeper.

Callum Shaw picked up a first yellow card of the evening for the city-based side on the 36th minute as Skyers’ free kick from towards the near touchline just over the halfway line was curled to be nodded clear by a trio of opposing defenders stationed at the edge of the box, before the visiting skipper ended up in Sanha’s book himself for stamping on a Worcester midfielder.

Goode was forced to make another save as Ledbury’s frustration over allowing themselves to let United through too easily became palpable, before a recovered Burns returned to the action for Micula for the five minutes of the first period which remained when the newer of these two Town players suffered an injury of his own.

The visitors were unable to give themselves a two-goal buffer come the break through a further offside flag being shown against them and Ince missing a couple of chances upfront, as Ledbury manager Ian Merrick gave his squad a passionate dressing-down over the break with an emphasis on the fundamentals of football.

The hosts made a very early change of personnel barely two minutes into the ensuing half of play to retire one of their own injured players, before two golden opportunities for Town to retake the lead occurred when Ince nodded a corner ball the wrong way, shortly before Skyers fired the ball well over the woodwork.

The evening’s most contentious moment then unfolded as a Worcester free kick taken just before the far edge of the centre-circle met the head of United substitute player Joseph Grange, leaping up against Goode off his line with Trigg, Weir and Rares Micula in the mix as well, before it soared into the net as fury from home supporters was directed at the offside flag displayed by Jeynes.

After a fairly lengthy discussion between Sanha and the visiting linesman, man of the match when his side side last took on their latest opponents eight months ago, the referee ruled the goal out on the grounds of Gareth Williams-Howells impeding Goode’s view from an offside decision much to the dismay of the Worcester management.

Ince nevertheless brought the ball into the opposite box when play restarted, choosing to cross it for the United defence to take possession when he may have stood a better chance going straight for goal, being exchanged for reserves regular Kieran Loveridge as Febery went on to put the ball well over and wide of the target.

Further dogged work from Trigg around the centre-spot won the ball back for his side, before Rares Micula’s 66th minute free kick from the halfway line was nodded away from Weir before being launched over the fence by a home defender to cries of frustration from the set-piece taker.

A further Ledbury spot kick opportunity was squandered when Boyle delivered it to be deflected towards Lee, whose follow-up effort was in turn deflected by another member of the opposing back-line, even if smiles were soon put back on the faces of Town players, management and followers alike when Boyle’s strike in a one-on-one situation with the Worcester keeper saw the ball come off the gloves of the United goaltender to slowly roll over the line in dramatic fashion for a whole-team embrace to occur on the sideline.

A chance for Burns to further extend his side’s reclaimed lead just five minutes later was lost when a home defender intercepted him on the far side of the box, before Boyle skilfully turned against the opposing midfield to run the ball back towards their goal and produce a shot which was this time saved by their keeper.

After Goode struck a rather risky ball back out to Trigg, further chances for their side to cement the three points went begging when Loveridge missed a sitter in the box and Febery put another ball wide of the far post, as Burns retired for the remainder of the evening for Jeynes to take to the pitch.

Boyle was relieved of a possession by a pair of defenders to conclude another run downfield as Ince made a return for an injured Loveridge, before Matt Tristram made a crucial clearance over the near sideline away from a Worcester attacker with minutes to go as Weir denied a further goalscoring chance for United in the box.

The visitors put another ball well over the bar after Lee’s cross to Boyle was blocked by a home defender, as Ledbury’s top goalscorer, one short of thirty goals scored this season, was felled towards the near corner flag as Jeynes made one final great challenge towards the far sideline.

With second-placed formidable league newcomers and the only other side which pose a threat to Town’s title campaign Sporting Club Inkberrow, who were defeated 1-0 at their Sands Road ground last weekend through a winning header from Febery to finish a 67th minute free kick from Ben Miller, beating other newcomers Coppertops FC with a 3-1 win at home on the same night as Ledbury’s latest victory, only a single point still separates the two sides as Inkberrow retain the superior goal difference.

The penultimate league game of the season for Merrick’s men against mid-table Welland at the Upton Hill Community Centre this coming weekend therefore remains crucial, as Ledbury return home to New Street for a final re-arranged league fixture of the season against Wellington Rangers on the day of King Charles III’s coronation (both games KO 2:30pm).

Town have a 4-1 home victory over Welland in their records this season, even if the win towards the end of September looked far from certain as a surprisingly poor opening 45 minutes from the hosts saw visiting striker James Lush score the second of two penalties given to his side during the first period by referee Ian Jervis, only for Merrick’s squad to launch a stellar second-half comeback with goals from Zac Blood, Skyers, man of the match Burns and Pugh through a rebound off a great save from the opposing keeper which deflected his own 57th minute spot kick.

Ledbury’s previous away encounter against Welland back in mid-March last season was rather less successful however, going 3-2 down at half-time and suffering an eventual shock 5-3 defeat as braces from Mark Holbrow and Sean Smith, together with an additional goal scored by Omar Elmougy outnumbered Boyle’s double and further consolation goal netted by youngster George Walker.

Town scored their first victory of 2023 against Wellington courtesy of a second-half brace from Febery which followed a 20th minute opener from Pugh, who was sadly put out of action with a season-ending injury in suffering a dislocated shoulder fifteen minutes into the second period.

Jordan Mann found the hosts’ only consolation goal in controversial circumstances eight minutes after Pugh found the net, as Trigg picked up the man of the match accolade for Ledbury for a solid defensive display throughout the afternoon.

vs

Sporting Club Inkberrow FC v Ledbury Town

Ledbury man of the match and sole goalscorer that day Ben Febery (second from left) is congratulated by Rares Micula to the right and Tom Boyle and Tom Trigg (wearing the number 5 shirt) to the left, with recent Town newcomer Dean Lee and Josh Burns being shown further to the left after Febery nodded home a chipped free kick from Ben Miller on the 67th minute (📸: Chris Ponter)

After a crucial third victory of the season over Hereford Pegasus Reserves at New Street repaired the damage done by an unexpected 2-1 defeat to Clee Hill United on Easter Monday, Ledbury Town took a major step towards this season’s Herefordshire Football League Premier Division title with a 1-0 away triumph over formidable league newcomers and closest rivals Sporting Club Inkberrow.

Buoyed on by an impressive crowd of nearly a hundred visiting supporters, many of whom had travelled on a specially-booked 52-seater coach for the occasion, Ian Merrick’s high-flying squad had all the pressure on them with Inkberrow having nabbed the top spot of the table by two points via a 4-0 win against Ludlow Town Colts at home earlier in the week.

As was the case when these two top-tier teams first faced each other in a hard-fought goalless Friday evening affair at New Street back in early December, a tense opening 45 minutes saw them once again evenly matched, even if Ledbury very much held their own against a physical and burly Worcestershire-based outfit as referee Joshua Marchant let a number of risky challenges slide.

The breakthrough came on the 67th minute when Town man of the match Ben Febery nodded home a simple yet extremely effective free kick from Ben Miller, with visiting goalkeeper Alex Goode and defender Tom Trigg both being instrumental in keeping the opposition at bay for the remainder of the ninety minutes as nerves of away fans were tested to breaking point over seven minutes of stoppage time.

A critical encounter at Inkberrow’s impressive Sands Lane ground, enjoying a spell of warm spring sunshine that afternoon began with an opening volley from the hosts being comfortably caught by Goode, before it didn’t take long for the first moment of controversy to occur at just six minutes in when Febery took a fall in midfield with nothing being given to the black and white shirts by Marchant.

Lewis Williams recovered the ball, racing it upfield as a defensive knock over the crossbar from a member of the opposing back-line gave recent newcomer Dean Lee a first Ledbury corner ball of the affair, before top Town goalscorer Tom Boyle did well to keep the ball in play against two defenders on the far touchline, delivering a cross which missed the heads of both Williams and the Inkberrow player leaping up against him in the box.

Boyle went on to lose the ball to a swarm of defenders on the edge of the box as a very-much-unlucky thirteenth minute of play for the hosts saw their free kick sail narrowly wide of the far post as Goode went to make an attempted diving save.

Josh Burns then fed the ball in to see it seized from Williams by an outrushing opposing keeper as the visiting attacker gave the Inkberrow goaltender a sporting hand up from the ground, before things became rather more heated going into the 20th minute as aggressive defensive challenges against both Lee and Febery saw the hosts continue to go unpunished.

Marchant eventually yielded to Ledbury protests in awarding a free kick when Burns was sent sprawling in midfield, with the set-piece being played by Rares Micula to Town captain Joel Skyers to his left only for an opposing defender to intercept the ball and give the visiting skipper a throw-in.

A second free kick for the Herefordshire-based side, given just four minutes after Febery hit the deck in almost exactly the same spot as his team-mate upfront, was then struck by Boyle to make it past the four-man Inkberrow wall before being easily collected by their keeper at the far post.

The hosts squandered a spot kick opportunity of their own back downfield in putting it past Skyers and Burns to land harmlessly wide of the near post, before a solid defensive header from Burns in the box saw the game’s first offside flag being raised by assistant referee Geoff Banham, deeming Lee to have committed an infringement even if the opposing goaltender caught the intended aerial cross to the new Ledbury signing.

There was fury from Town’s management, players and followers alike as a boisterous Inkberrow side continued to evade Marchant’s book despite further late challenges being committed against Burns and Skyers, as Goode chose to charge almost out towards the far corner flag to make a decisive clearance as Williams was unlucky to lose the ball over the far sideline.

Marchant finally bowed to pressure on the 38th minute in displaying the first yellow card of the encounter to the hosts to give Skyers a free kick, before hearts entered the mouths of visiting fans five minutes from the break when an opposing forward struck the ball just over the bar from close range while under pressure from Trigg.

Micula fired the ball rather higher over the woodwork from 25 yards out back upfield, before blood pressures of Ledbury spectators soared on the brink of the interval when a final Inkberrow spot kick was played to the right of the near post, being headed back into the box with Goode deflecting the follow-up strike, as only the heroic efforts of Trigg prevented the ball from entering the net on the rebound.

Superb challenges from Burns and Micula began the latter half of play as the latter Town midfielder struck an opening free kick of the second period past the near post in another missed opportunity to finally break the deadlock, before Tyler Weir managed to stop the ball with the sole of his foot in the box for his clearance to erroneously meet the boots of a home attacker.

Micula performed another great sliding tackle at the near corner of the box with Marchant seeing no cause to sanction him despite protests from the opposition, before Goode caught an aerial effort from the far wing in a comfortable manner to see Cosmin Micula, cousin of Rares pick up a first booking for the visitors through a late challenge on the opposite wing.

Trigg continued to boss the Ledbury back-line in making a solid challenge just outside the box and blasting the ball against the back of an Inkberrow forward in painful-sounding manner, before Febery decided to take matters into his own hands – or rather feet – when his defence failed to clear the ball, lunging in with a sliding covering clearance to send the ball safely away to the near touchline.

Williams retired for Miller as half an hour remained for their team to find that elusive goal, with Goode going on to seize another aerial ball as undue contact from a home attacker against Weir was again ignored by the referee.

The moment of joy occurred for Town’s patient crowd of followers when Miller’s chipped free kick met the diving header from Febery into the net to cries of euphoria, even if the opposition were quick to remind their visitors that things were far from over as Goode was forced to make two pivotal saves to retain his side’s newfound lead.

A somewhat bizarre moment occurred on the 73rd minute when Goode fell in agony into his own net as an Inkberrow corner ball was being prepared, with a home defender having apparently stamped on his foot on the line as Cosmin Micula was nevertheless on hand to head the set-piece clear.

Both teams made substitutions with fifteen minutes of regular time remaining as Nathan Ince came on for Burns, with a further corner ball from the opposition being easily cleared as Ince was swiftly shown his side’s second yellow card of the afternoon six minutes after entering the action.

Cosmin Micula required treatment from joint assistant coach Scott Roberts following an injury incurred from another physical Inkberrow challenge on the far wing, as an 83rd minute free kick from the hosts was built up to be knocked directly against the two-man Ledbury wall as the seconds ticked away for them to find a critical equalizer.

Marchant eventually stopped play to allow several Town players to recover from cramp, and, as Trigg continued to keep the opposition’s late last-ditch attack at bay with some further great clearances going into stoppage time, one last free kick opportunity for Inkberrow was struck through a huge seven-man wall of black and white shirts to be caught and grasped tightly on the ground in the safe hands of Goode.

Visiting followers, whose nerves couldn’t take much more demanded that Marchant check his watch as the game entered its 94th minute, with Cosmin Micula succumbing to his earlier injury for Pete Jeynes to make a late appearance, before the final whistle was finally sounded to tumultuous cheers from the Ledbury crowd as Merrick and his men applauded their many dedicated supporters in a victorious exit from the field.

Merrick had nothing but praise not only for his players, but also for the impressive turnout of his team’s followers on the day:

“It was always going to be a game of fine margins, with two quality teams battling hard against each other.”

“A real moment of quality won us the game with Ben Febery’s diving header, and the desire and team spirit shown by the lads since the defeat at Clee Hill has been immense.”

“We now have to ensure however that we finish off the job by winning our final three games.”

“I’d also like to say a massive thank you to our supporters. To have almost a hundred of our own fans there backing the team was just fantastic.”

“No other team at this level receives the level of support which we do, so again thank you to everyone who came along and backed the lads. We really do appreciate your support.”

Although a massive result, Town’s title campaign is by no means over. Their victory over Inkberrow places them only a single point back at the summit of the table, meaning that three points from each of their remaining three games could well be mandatory if they are to guarantee themselves the silverware with their closest rivals retaining an eight-goal advantage.

Ledbury next face lowly Worcester United for a second time this season at the Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre this coming Wednesday evening (KO 8:00pm), having little time to recover from this midweek encounter as they play their penultimate league of the season against mid-table Welland at the Upton Hill Community Centre this coming Saturday (KO 2:30pm).

Town then return home to New Street for a concluding rearranged league fixture against eleventh-placed Wellington Rangers the following weekend (KO also 2:30pm).

Merrick’s side have already beaten Worcester 2-1 at home during the third league game of the season in late August, when Boyle and Ryan Pugh scored first-half goals for Ledbury as substitute player Joshua Lloyd found the only goal for United with Jeynes being named man of the match for the hosts.

Town also have a 4-1 victory over Welland in their records this season, even if the win towards the end of September looked far from certain as a surprisingly poor opening 45 minutes from the hosts at New Street saw visiting striker James Lush score the second of two penalties given to his side during the first period by referee Ian Jervis, only for Merrick’s men to launch a stellar second-half comeback with goals from Zac Blood, Skyers, man of the match Burns and Pugh through a rebound off a great save from the opposing keeper which deflected his own 57th minute spot kick.

Finally, Ledbury scored their first victory of 2023 against Wellington courtesy of a second-half brace from Febery which followed a 20th minute opener from Pugh, who was sadly put out of action with a season-ending injury in suffering a dislocated shoulder fifteen minutes into the second period of play.

Jordan Mann found the hosts’ only consolation goal in controversial circumstances eight minutes after Pugh found the net, as Trigg picked up the man of the match accolade for Town for a solid defensive display throughout the afternoon.

vs

Holme Lacy Reserves v Ledbury Town Reserves

A home midfielder manages to strike the ball past Sam Branch attempting to block his opponent on the halfway-line as the away dugout looks on behind them (📸: Chris Ponter)

Ledbury Town Reserves guaranteed themselves a fifth place mid-table finish in Division One of the 2022/23 Herefordshire Football League this week in a penultimate game of the season played away at Holme Lacy Reserves.

Avenging the previous disappointing 5-2 defeat to the Holme Lacy second string at New Street back in mid-February, when a Nathan Taylor-Woodward treble and goals from team-mates Oliver Kitching and Harry Willett outnumbered the two second-half goals scored for Ledbury by man of the match Kieran Loveridge and Callum Blackmore-Davey, a midweek fixture under the setting sun saw Morgan Skidmore open the scoring for David Butcher and Harry Powell’s side directly from a free kick five minutes before the interval.

The hosts failed to really threaten as the second period unfolded, enabling reserves’ substitute player Nick Bolton to secure the three points with a goal of his own just a few minutes from young referee Callum Williams’ final whistle.

Upcoming youngster from Town’s third Swifts outfit Jasper Williams was brought on with Bolton fifteen minutes into the latter half of play in exchange for Brad Potter and Alistair Holder respectively, going on to produce an industrious 45-minute shift upfront as Bolton battled hard on the 60th minute to gain possession on the far sideline, hitting the deck in the end with nothing being given by the referee.

Wilce then got the ball to Bolton as his more seasoned team-mate knocked the ball over the bar, with Ledbury protests over believing that they should have been awarded a corner being ignored by Williams, before a free kick from Pete Jeynes taken near the away dugout saw Bolton again come to blows with the opposition.

Holme Lacy broke through on the near wing to force reserves goalkeeper Joshua Worrell to make a tentative save from the ground, shortly before his Holme Lacy counterpart raced off his line to claim the ball in more definitive fashion back across field.

Jeynes was swapped for Luke Cox in a second change of personnel from Butcher and Powell as Skidmore was sent tumbling to result in the visitors being awarded a further spot kick, swiftly before Ledbury’s first goalscorer that evening repaid the favour in pushing a home midfielder down to the ground.

The village-based outfit were not happy over the official letting another physical challenge slide as Holder returned to the action for Dave Preece with twenty minutes to go, before Williams again turned a blind eye to a blue-shirted striker being brought down just inside the far corner of the box.

The man in the middle appeared not to spot an offside flag raised by Potter running the near sideline in the process of hardworking Ledbury man of the match that evening Jai Smallwood performed an upwards defensive header in the box, before Skidmore retired for Kieran Loveridge to make a late appearance with ten minutes left on the clock.

Bolton then made two deliveries to Wilce, with the first ball being too long for the teenage player to reach it before it slipped over the touchline as the second, made possible through a strong challenge from Sam Branch in midfield, met the youngster’s feet to be followed by a shot which provided the opposing goaltender with a fairly easy save.

Holme Lacy were shown the only yellow card of the game on the 84th minute for bringing down Wilce while on another run with the ball downfield, with the resulting free kick from Loveridge eventually leading to Bolton seizing his chance, charging in and pulling the trigger with a superb effort which came off the gloves of a diving home keeper into the back of the net.

Wilce ended the affair strongly, doing well to keep the ball in from the near sideline to make one last dash and produce a final effort while under pressure from an opposing defender which was saved by the Holme Lacy goaltender.

Butcher was more than happy with his team’s penultimate performance, having notched up a fourth consecutive win with twelve goals netted and none conceded:

“We managed to grind out the win in the end, even if we never really looked in any real danger from the off.”

“It was always going to be tough going against Holme Lacy, but four wins and four clean sheets on the bounce is really good stuff.”

“With one game to go, we will be looking to do the same, ending the season strongly with a fifth consecutive win.”

The Ledbury second string, now uncatchable by either Kington Town Reserves or Bartestree below them having finished their seasons eight points behind Butcher and Powell’s squad, will return to New Street for a final fixture of the season against fourth place holders Ewyas Harold on Saturday 29th April (KO 2:30pm).

With three games left to play, the Welsh border outfit will remain at least a single point clear of the reserves even if Ledbury record a final win at home, also still being in a position to make a challenge for the runner-up spot with current second place holders Shobdon lying only four points above them with a one-game disadvantage.

Butcher and Powell’s squad indeed have a score to settle against Ewyas Harold, having been dealt two defeats by them earlier in the season, being knocked out of the first round of the Ross Cup in a muddy midweek encounter under the floodlights at New Street in mid-October when a Luke Price brace and additional goal from Matthew Norton overcame the 40th minute opener from Loveridge and very late goal from man of the match Holder, before a second 2-1 loss resulted away on Bonfire Night when Ledbury’s sole consolation goal came from Preece as Price and Norton again netted for the hosts.

vs

Ledbury Town v Hereford Pegasus Reserves

Newcomer Dean Lee (second from left) embraces Rares Micula with Josh Burns beneath him, Ben Febery, Tom Trigg and Lewis Williams behind and Matt Tristram, Dale Taylor and Joel Skyers to the right as a raucous team huddle celebrates Ledbury’s second goal of the afternoon scored by Lee from a terrific cross from man of the match Williams (📸: Chris Ponter)

After an unwelcome 2-1 defeat at a squally Knowle Sports Ground against sixth place holders Clee Hill United on Easter Monday reduced their lead at the top of the Herefordshire Football League Premier Division to a solitary point, Ledbury Town made much-needed amends this week with a vital 2-0 victory against third-placed Hereford Pegasus Reserves at New Street.

With Ledbury and the Pegasus second string having established quite the rivalry over recent seasons, with the Reserves having denied Town of the Herefordshire FA Charity Bowl last season through a 3-1 win at the Herefordshire FA County Ground before Ian Merrick’s squad repaid the favour by knocking the title holders out of the opening round of the same contest with a 3-1 win on penalties at Old School Lane in September, with a stunning free kick from Tom Boyle a month later buying a league win at the same venue, the big crowd at Ledbury’s historic ground reflected how important this fixture was.

Those hoping for a fiery clash under the warm spring sunshine during a hotly-anticipated fixture which had been rescheduled due to a frozen pitch at New Street back in mid-January, were to be somewhat disappointed however as a relatively innocuous opening half unfolded, albeit with a few controversial decisions culminating in a disallowed goal for the visitors.

Town man of the match Lewis Williams broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second period through a superb assist from team-mate upfront Josh Burns, before recent home newcomer Dean Lee doubled the lead a further eight minutes later this time with the assistance of Williams to achieve a treble over the Hereford-based outfit.

With Ben Febery taking kick-off as the hosts gained the advantage of playing downhill to begin with, Williams made the first significant move of the affair in sliding in to deflect an early cross-shot from an opposing forward on the near touchline upfield, before an early blow for the black and white shirts occurred when Febery came down with a nasty head injury.

The blow fortunately wasn’t match-ending however as Ledbury debutant that day Jaheim Clarke came on to briefly cover for his more established colleague as a dressing was applied, with the free kick taken by Town goalkeeper Alex Goode being followed by a further spot kick from Lee which made it over the pair of Pegasus players forming the dual wall in front of him to be met with a clearing header.

Rares Micula rattled the crossbar to gasps from the sizeable gathering of spectators, before a very-much-unlucky thirteenth minute of play for the hosts saw Josh Burns brought down in the box with no flag being raised by assistant referee Simon Gibson from the near sideline to see the penalty go ungiven.

A free kick from Febery taken a few yards outside the box was sent well over the crossbar as a second spot kick from Micula on the far wing rolled past players from both sides in the box to nearly make it into the net, before the Ledbury defence tentatively cleared a further free kick from the Reserves at 25 minutes in.

The game was then stopped temporarily as referee Dean Macdonald went over to the Town dugout requesting that extra protective layers be added to the vulnerable head of Febery, before a prime chance for the hosts to open their account occurred on the half-hour mark when Williams broke through, being sent down by a scrambling visiting keeper at the far post as appeals from the hosts were ignored by the official.

Macdonald again refused to sanction the city-based side when Burns was sent sprawling in front of his own dugout, before an excellent free kick from the same Ledbury attacker nearly went in if not for being deflected over the bar through a superb save from the opposing goaltender.

The resulting corner ball was struck by Lee to sail through an attempted double header from Pegasus captain Henry Hancocks and one of his fellow defenders, with Skyers leaping up next to them as a further Reserves player raced the ball back up the far wing, leaping to successfully evade a sliding challenge from Tom Watkins.

Burns battled hard to keep possession against a number of defenders towards the near touchline, delivering a cross-shot which saw the ball roll across the top netting although not without winning a further corner ball for his side, which was again struck by Lee to be met with a two-fisted clearance from the visiting keeper.

The big contentious moment of the first period occurred three minutes from the half-time whistle when the red and white shirts believed that the ball had crossed the line upfield, only for their hopes to be dashed when a brief discussion between Macdonald and second assistant official Ava Jordan concluded in the goal being disallowed.

Burns did much of the threatening upfront to begin the second period to culminate in an intended cross from Williams to his team-mate being intercepted by an opposing defender, before Tom Trigg repaid the favour back down the other end by sliding in to block a good ball from a Pegasus attacker charging down the far sideline.

There was jubilation at New Street when a cracking run from Burns saw his strong cross-shot being popped into the net by Williams lying in wait in the box to finally get their side off the mark, and, after Micula put in some solid work in midfield, Town fans erupted when a terrific cross from Williams was finished by Lee for a first goal scored for his new team.

Matt Tristram made a pivotal high clearance away from a Pegasus forward to his right who had just missed the connection with a 65th minute aerial ball, before a free kick for the Reserves awarded after Hancocks was barged down on the near wing by Lee was struck directly against Skyers as part of the two-man wall, with Macdonald waving aside some tenuous handball calls from the visitors.

Williams retired at a job well done for Clarke to make his proper debut, with a free kick from Skyers struck just after Trigg needed a moment to recover from cramp further downfield seeing Lee knock the ball well over the target from the near touchline.

An effort from Burns went much the same way under pressure from the opposing defence, before a more on-target shot from the goal-hungry home striker was grasped on the ground by the Pegasus goaltender at the far post.

Trigg performed a further solid header to deflect an incoming aerial ball as less than ten minutes remained for the Reserves to salvage at least something from the game, as Goode made a good call coming off his line to see Trigg leave him to make the save away from a lurking visiting forward.

Burns was swapped for Ince for the five minutes which remained as great pressure from Trigg and then Tristram in pursuing an opposing attacker over the far touchline won a goal kick for Goode, before the Pegasus keeper made a similar good judgement of his own in racing well off his line back upfield towards the far wing to boot the ball away from Clarke.

A final free kick for the Reserves, given following a physical challenge from Skyers on the near touchline, couldn’t provide them with a late consolation goal as Ince went on to take a tumble over a visiting counterpart along the edge of the box.

Pete Jeynes had to replace Clarke moments before the final whistle as the latest Ledbury player’s inaugural game sadly ended in injury, as Town nevertheless went on to celebrate a critical win in terms of keeping them on the road for the league title.

With formidable league newcomers Sporting Club Inkberrow overcoming Ludlow Town Colts with the same result at home on the same day however to stay one point behind the leaders, with Harry Coughlin and Jay Higgins-Pugsley finding the goals as Luke Hicks received a straight red card for Ludlow, the pivotal moment of the season is yet to come for Merrick’s men as they take on none other than the second-place holders at Sands Lane this coming weekend (KO 2:30pm).

A trio of late away games, all of which remain must-win affairs if Ledbury are to guarantee themselves the league silverware come the end of the season as Inkberrow and Pegasus both retain a critical game in hand, will continue with a visit to lowly Worcester United in a midweek fixture at the Hallow Playing Field on Wednesday 26th April (KO 6:30pm), before Town play seventh-placed Welland at the Upton Hill Community Centre on Saturday 29th April (KO 2:30pm).

A 52-seater coach will be departing New Street for the occasion, with anyone interested in travelling with the team for this decisive clash being invited to contact Town chairman Pete Boyle on 07415 114664 with their name and how many seats they would like at a cost of £5.00 each.

After their scheduled second meeting of the season against Wellington Rangers was postponed on the evening of Friday 31st March, when torrential showers throughout the day created a waterlogged pitch at New Street, Merrick’s side will end their season with a rescheduled fixture at home against the current ninth place holders on Saturday 6th May (KO 2:30pm).

A goalless draw occurred against Inkberrow under the floodlights at New Street in early December, during a tough affair all round which saw the visitors nearly find the net during the closing ten minutes if not for some heroic saves from Ledbury man of the match Goode, with Town already having beaten Worcester 2-1 at home during the third league game of the season in late August when substitute player Joshua Lloyd found the only goal for the visitors, with Jeynes being named man of the match for some strong defending throughout.

The first-half Ledbury goals came courtesy of Boyle and Ryan Pugh, as the latter player was sadly put out of action during the 3-1 win over Wellington Rangers in early February after suffering a dislocated shoulder fifteen minutes into the second period at The Kensal Ground.

Town also have a 4-1 victory over Welland in their records this season, even if the win towards the end of September looked far from certain as a surprisingly poor opening 45 minutes from the hosts at New Street saw visiting striker James Lush score the second of two penalties given to his side during the first period by referee Ian Jervis, only for Merrick’s men to launch a stellar second-half comeback with goals from Zac Blood, Skyers, man of the match Burns and Pugh through a rebound off a great save from the opposing keeper which deflected his own 57th minute spot kick.

Finally, Ledbury scored their first victory of 2023 against Wellington courtesy of a second-half brace from Febery which followed a 20th minute opener from Pugh, as Jordan Mann found Wellington’s only consolation goal eight minutes after Pugh found the net, with Trigg picking up the man of the match accolade for Town for a solid defensive display throughout the afternoon.

vs