Hereford Pegasus Reserves 1-3 Ledbury Town
Ledbury Town sent a strong message to the Herefordshire FA County League Premier Division in terms of an intended return to the second spot in the league table this week, achieving a convincing 3-1 win against current second place holders Hereford Pegasus Reserves during a chilly Friday evening fixture at Old School Lane.
It was the second occasion in which Ian Merrick’s men had overcome the Pegasus second string this season, following a great 3-2 comeback after going two goals down after an hour of play at New Street back in mid-November when an own goal from the Reserves scored in front of Sam Branch was followed in the space of four minutes by Alistair Holder flicking in a Scott Roberts free kick, with Roberts himself converting a penalty after Tom Boyle was brought down in the box.
The latest meeting between these two upper table rivals saw Boyle add another hat-trick to his impressive goal tally this season following a brace and a further hat-trick scored against Ewyas Harold and Clee Hill United respectively at New Street since the start of the year, even if the hosts provided a brief scare in denying the clean sheet through a 66thminute effort out of the blue.
This fixture under the floodlights on Pegasus’ artificial turf began with a foul from Ben Febery, giving the Reserves a third minute free kick which was struck wide of the near post, before a great opening save from trusty Ledbury goalkeeper James Loader deflected the ball off for a corner which was put just shy of the far post by a home forward.
A well-taken free kick from Febery then skimmed off the head of Boyle in the box to get the black and white shirts off the mark before ten minutes had elapsed, before a great ball from Town’s almost-accidental opening goalscorer flew narrowly past the outstretched foot of Febery in the box in an attempt to repay the favour.
Loader then made a solid stop at the far post as both Nathan Ince and Boyle were denied by a busy Pegasus keeper back across field, with a great run from Josh Burns down the near wing being halted at the far post by three pursuing defenders.
A second foul from the visitors, this time committed by Ince just outside the box, lead to a Reserves striker knocking the ball well wide on a run across from the opposite wing, before further safe hands from Loader to deny a home equalizer were followed by Febery launching in with a solid if physical challenge against the opposing captain to force a throw-in to the Pegasus skipper.
The half-hour mark saw a moment of peril occur for Ledbury when Loader only just managed to prevent the ball from sneaking over the line, before the confidence of the good crowd of away supporters was restored when Boyle fired the ball home to complete his brace, following some good Town play in and around the box which was successful in breaking down the Pegasus defence.
Febery was judged to have committed a further foul by referee for the evening Adrian Rocke, with Ince requiring a bout of spray treatment on the field from Merrick after coming down in midfield before Boyle gained a prime chance at a first period hat-trick, as a scramble for the ball in the box involving the Reserves goaltender resulted in the ball somehow being cleared away.
A long-range effort from the same seasoned visiting striker ended up towards the far corner flag, before the 40thminute saw some solid sustained defensive work from Ledbury captain Tom Trigg, jockeying an incoming striker from the far side of the box to force the ball to be struck over the touchline for a Loader goal kick.
Burns then made another great run back across field, firing the ball to rattle the far post as the home keeper was then forced to leave his line in order to knock the ball away from a rapidly-advancing Febery with a Pegasus defender in hot pursuit, as the deflection landed for Ince on the far wing even if he couldn’t quite take advantage of the opposing goaltender being off his line, as his thirty-yard effort instead flew wide of the target.
The latter half began with a bang as Febery and his Reserves counterpart were involved in a 50/50 aerial challenge a few yards from the away dugout, before Ince came off the worse during an attempted tackle against a home defender on the far wing, requiring further first aid from Merrick as Rocke nevertheless gave the decision Pegasus’ way despite Ince appearing to have gained the ball.
Loader, whom Town owed a fair deal to in terms of keeping the Reserves’ scoreline at bay that evening, then pulled off a further superb save in order to send the ball flying across the front of goal before his defence managed to clear the threat away, with a 55thminute ball then landing for Boyle in the box only to bounce too far off his foot as it ended up with the home goaltender.
Both sides then made first substitutions of the evening, with Lee Marlow coming on for Pegasus as Curt Williams replaced Morgan Skidmore, before Burns was flagged offside by assistant referee Mark Ammonds after receiving a good ball on the far wing.
The visiting defence continued to hold strong, with hardworking Ledbury man of the match that night Dwayne Tyndale nodding the ball safely clear while next to Loader on the line, shortly before the Town keeper himself stopped a second aerial effort from the Reserves as Trigg made another superb challenge in the box.
Ammonds then flagged Ince offside after Boyle fed the ball down the near wing, before a 65thminute effort from the former of the visiting strikers was met with a good save from the home goaltender.
A later cross from Ince saw Febery end up on the floor after just missing the connection at the far post, before the complexion of the game was changed completely when a ball from the opposition came out of nowhere towards the edge of the box to halve their goal deficit.
Boyle took one touch too many in the box as a further effort went wide of the near post, even if it only took another seven minutes for the prolific Ledbury striker to complete his second treble in four games.
Pegasus swiftly reminded Town that they couldn’t afford to rest on their laurels however having restored their double goal advantage, nodding a corner ball off the woodwork in amongst the swarm of players from both sides in the box back downfield, before James Kenny entered the fray for Asten Griffiths for the final ten minutes with David Solway coming on for the Reserves.
The hosts continued to threaten as one of their strikers performed an impromptu yet worthwhile 25-yard effort over the crossbar just after Rocke dodged the ball, before being flagged offside by Geoff Banham running the far sideline as a cross from one of their forwards was put over the frame right in front of Loader.
Harry Waybourne came on as Pegasus’ final substitute player with five minutes left on the clock, followed by both Tom Skittery and Samuel Palmer-Young making late appearances for Ince and Burns respectively, before a thirty-yard effort from the Reserves struck from towards the far wing provided Loader with a relatively comfortable save.
Trigg was given a helping hand from Tyndale to overcome a spot of cramp in the increasingly cold late evening conditions after performing one final solid defensive challenge, as his squad cleared away one final stoppage time assault to seal an important latter half of the season victory.
Despite being defeated by Ledbury during both league meetings this season, Pegasus will have one additional chance to exact revenge on Merrick’s men before the current season is out, as both sides look set to clash once again in the final of the latest Herefordshire FA Charity Bowl cup competition to be played at Old School Lane on a date still to be announced.
Town, who took the silverware back in April 2019 after defeating Holme Lacy with a memorable 3-2 win at Westfields’ allpay.park ground when an 81stminute winner from substitute player Charlie Docherty netted the title, made it to the end stage of this season’s contest following a shock 5-3 win on penalties against runaway Herefordshire League Premier Division leaders Hartpury University, after goals from Burns and King Baidoo left the scoreline hanging at a goal apiece after ninety minutes of play at New Street.
The Reserves booked their place in the final with a 3-2 semi-final victory away at current league seventh place holders Welland on the same day as the dramatic penalty shootout at New Street, with Carl Horton, Jordan Williamson and substitute player Harvey Evans bagging the goals for the visitors.
Ledbury’s latest league win, made even more significant with current league third place holders Hereford Lads Club Reserves being overcome 5-1 at the County Ground by mid-table Clee Hill United the day afterwards, puts them a single point behind both of the city-based sides, crucially retaining two games in hand over Lads Club and three over Pegasus as a fortnight’s break sees them next entertain lowly Holme Lacy at New Street on Saturday 12thMarch (KO 2:30pm).
Town then visit Welland at the Upton Hill Community Centre the weekend afterwards, before another re-arranged fixture away at basement boys Shobdon, after the original date on the very first day of the current season was cancelled on account of no referee being available and the first re-scheduled date last weekend being postponed owing to the numerous waterlogged pitches created by Storm Eunice, looks set to take place on Saturday 26thMarch (both games also KO 2:30pm).
Merrick’s squad will be looking for better luck against Holme Lacy after a highly-frustrating goalless draw occurred away in mid-October, three days after thumping defending Herefordshire FA County Challenge Cup holders Lads Club firsts 6-0 at New Street in the opening round of this season’s competition, when goals from Roberts and Ince accompanied braces scored by Boyle and Burns.
Ledbury will then be looking to merely add to the 8-0 demolition of Welland at New Street during the second league game of the season back in mid-September, when a further brace from Boyle, along with goals from Ben Miller, Burns, Febery, Ince and substitute players Charlie Docherty and Williams contributed to the biggest Town victory since their 11-2 home hammering of none other than Pegasus’ reserves side back in November 2017, and the most sizeable win since the 9-1 thrashing of Walsall-based Red Star Alma at New Street back when Ledbury were in Division One of the West Midlands Regional League in February 2013 if the Pegasus fixture is to be discounted due to them pulling out of the Herefordshire League later that season.
Town are yet to lock horns with Shobdon in league play this season due to the aforementioned postponements, but have already recorded a stunning 11-2 thrashing of the bottom table holders during a bitterly cold Charity Bowl cup quarter-final fixture at their aerodrome venue back in late November, when Miller struck four, twenty-year-old George Walker found his first hat-trick at senior level football with the aid of two penalties, and James Febery, Trigg, Roberts and Branch all added to their side’s illustrious scoresheet on the day.
Georges on target as reserves score second win over basement boys
Ledbury Town Reserves 3-0 Bartestree
Ledbury Town Reserves rose to mid-table in Division One of the Herefordshire FA County League this weekend, overcoming league basement boys Bartestree for a second occasion this season with a 3-0 victory at a bright and breezy New Street.
It was also a back-to-back win for David Butcher’s young squad, having defeated basement boys the Civil Service 2-1 at home a fortnight ago following a postponed New Street fixture against Tenbury Town last weekend due to a waterlogged pitch caused by Storm Eunice, when goals from Tom Skittery and Brad Potter overcame the consolation goal scored by William Greaves.
Although it was only a critical save from Zak Bonfield which retained the three points the last time the Ledbury second string locked horns with Bartestree during the first game of the year for both teams after the original reverse fixture at New Street was cancelled the week beforehand owing to a waterlogged pitch, when Harry Gwynne halved the hosts’ goal deficit following first-half goals from George Walker and Sam Branch, this latest affair was rather more assured for the reserves despite a shaky opening twenty minutes, even if the bottom table holders made them work for the clean sheet.
The day belonged to the Georges as Walker picked up a brace between the two halves of play, with George Hackman finding the target on the 25thminute just two minutes after Walker scored his first.
Kieran Loveridge was first to strike, firing the ball wide of the far post before Tom Skittery tried his luck from twenty yards out, sending the ball the same way as his team-mate as a very-much-unlucky thirteenth minute of play for Matti Holder saw him come down towards the far wing during a 50/50 challenge between him and a member of the Bartestree back-line, even if referee for the day Mike Darley gave the decision the visitors’ way.
The home defence then just about managed to hold off an advance from the blue shirts in midfield, even if Butcher made his frustration over the opposition being allowed to gain so much ground quite clear from the dugout as Bartestree keeper Alex Russell then beat both Skittery and one of his defenders to the ball to make the clearance.
Walker then opened the scoring, with Hackman doubling his side’s lead moments later before Skittery had a chance to make it three for Ledbury soon afterwards, not quite being able to score from the follow-up after Russell dived to claw a cross-shot from Morgan Skidmore off the line.
Holder just missed the header at the far post from a 34thminute Loveridge corner ball, before a cross from the visitors hit the side netting back downfield as a result of one of their forwards being put under pressure from Holder on the touchline.
Skittery then brought down a veteran opposing player in midfield, with the resulting free kick being nodded clear by Holder marking the same seasoned Bartestree player, before Bonfield went on to comfortably catch two consecutive cross-shots in what was the first time he had really been troubled by the visitors that afternoon.
Skittery managed to keep hold of the ball while under pressure back upfield to cross it back to Jake Bramley, whose effort saw the ball travel wide of the far post, before the former of these reserves strikers, just not seeming to get the luck that afternoon, rattled the bar in another missed chance to get on the scoresheet before the break.
Bonfield was then called upon to deal with some late first-half danger for the hosts, blocking a threatening close-range effort at the far post following a great cross from the far wing, as Skidmore was swapped for Alex Berry over the break.
Bonfield began the latter half of play by leaping to palm a direct volley from the opposition over the bar, before Loveridge came down in painful-sounding fashion following a Bartestree foul towards the near wing, with Butcher signalling for a substitution to be made at first although with his striker soon returning to the action after briefly exiting to the sideline to receive treatment from his manager.
The free kick awarded to Ledbury was struck by captain Jai Smallwood to be deflected towards Russell as Skittery lunged in just that little bit too late, before a corner ball from the visitors was very well dealt with by the reserves skipper, seizing the ball at the near post and playing it back downfield.
A 55thminute free kick from Loveridge, given after Walker was felled by two opposing defenders on the near sideline, was nodded away by a veteran Bartestree defender for a home corner ball, before a moment of hesitancy on the ball from Skittery in the box saw him instead pass the ball on to Bramley, who was caught unawares but was still able to force the ball out over the near sideline against a visiting defender for a throw-in.
Butcher made three further changes to his squad from his well-staffed subs bench that day, with a limping Alistair Holder being exchanged for Samuel Palmer-Young as Bramley and Hackman came off for Sam Branch and sixteen-year-old Jake Clueit, as the first of these substitute players soon made his presence on the pitch felt by winning a free kick at the edge of the centre-circle, taken by Holder to see an opposing defender give Branch the slip and play the ball back out of the box.
Palmer-Young’s swift 25-yard volley was then caught by Russell, and after a 70thminute Bartestree corner ball was headed by one of their seasoned defenders towards Holder on the far sideline, Walker completed his brace through nodding a superb ball from his team-mate into the net.
Palmer-Young then mis-timed an intended volley to finish a ball that bounced in front of him in the box, before a more threatening follow-up from Branch was denied through a great save from Russell.
Branch couldn’t quite connect with the resulting corner ball at the near post, and after Bramley returned to the action for Loveridge for the final ten minutes, a well-taken corner ball from Skittery was nodded just over the woodwork by Holder to bounce off the top netting.
Bonfield pounced on top of an effort struck past hardworking home man of the match James Kenny as it was heading just shy of the near post, before two final free kicks from the visitors couldn’t provide them with a well-deserved consolation goal, as the first was deflected off the four-man Ledbury wall of Smallwood, Kenny, Holder and Berry to land behind the net, while the second made it over the dual reserves wall but couldn’t be finished.
Butcher was pleased with his side’s performance on the day, although admitted that it took a while for them to hit their stride:
“We didn’t start the game very well, letting the opposition come at us, and we didn’t really test their keeper.”
“It took until the 25thminute for us to finally get to grips with the game, but after we scored two in quick succession, we started to settle down and from there we controlled the game throughout.”
“Back-to-back wins is a good sign, especially when we still haven’t showed what we are really capable of, and so hopefully we can go on a good run now and push up the table.”
“With games still in hand over several other sides in the league, it should be a very interesting end to the season – especially with the teams around our position picking up points as well!”
Butcher’s young squad now move up to seventh place in the league table, as a busy March begins with them travelling to face current ninth place holders Hinton Reserves at Broomy Hill this coming weekend, before playing tenth-placed Burghill Rangers at The Copse the following weekend (both games KO 2:30pm).
The Ledbury second string will then entertain current second place holders Worcester United in an evening fixture at New Street on Wednesday 16thMarch (KO 7:30pm), before hosting fifth-placed Tenbury United three days later (KO 2:30pm).
The reserves will be looking for a repeat or better of the 3-1 win achieved the last time they played Hinton at New Street back in early November, when a brace from man of the match Skittery and an additional goal from Callum Blackmore-Davey overcame the sole goal scored for the visitors scored by substitute player Marlone Ransome.
The fortunes of Butcher’s team against Burghill are rather more mixed, with a 1-1 draw resulting at home during the very first game of the season back in early September, when Alistair Holder found the sole goal for Ledbury with Liam Watton scoring for the Rangers.
An 8-5 goal fest to Burghill’s advantage occurred in the quarter-finals of this season’s Ross Cup in early December at The Copse, as star reserves player Bramley notched up a first hat-trick at senior level football to go with goals from Skittery and Matti Holder, as Watton scored a treble and Louis Mann picked up a brace for the Rangers with Jed Mann and substitute players John Brandie and Harry Bosse also finding the net for the hosts, although not without Chad Bryant receiving a yellow card from referee for the occasion Mark Hays.
A 3-3 draw occurred away at Martley Village Hall when Butcher’s squad last played Worcester in early October, when a further brace from Skittery and a goal from Jack Dandy levelled the goals scored by home strikers Matthew Gardner, Rhys Turberfield and Arron Windsor.
The same scoreline also resulted against Tenbury at Palmers Meadow in the Ledbury second string’s penultimate game before the Christmas break, as Skittery and Clueit scored either side of an own goal from the hosts, with Ryan Morris picking up a Tenbury brace and Michael Wood also on target for the blue and yellow shirts, even if team-mates Will Clutterbuck and Aaron Morris were booked by referee J. Cairns.
Swifts manage close defeat against league leaders
Ledbury Town Swifts 0-1 Ewyas Harold Reserves
Following a 1-1 draw against tenth-placed Tenbury United Colts at the Ledbury Rugby Football Club Ross Road ground, followed by a narrow 3-2 loss to basement boys Dore Valley at the Seven Site, Ledbury Town Swifts continued a mixed February of fortunes in Division Two of the Herefordshire FA County League with a spirited 1-0 home defeat against runaway league leaders Ewyas Harold Reserves.
It was the second time the Swifts had faced the league table toppers this season, after a 2-1 loss resulted at Ewyas Harold’s ground back in early October when goals from Dylan Lloyd and home substitute player Owen Prout overcame the consolation goal scored by Dan Fish.
Alex Williams scored on this occasion for the visitors during the first half at the Ross Road ground, with Jamie Roberts gaining the best chance to equalize after a one-on-one situation with the opposing goalkeeper saw the effort from the Swifts’ striker being saved by the Ewyas Harold goaltender.
Nick Blakeway was voted man of the match for the hosts after making a number of great saves, with youngsters Ethan French and Harry Eales also putting in commendable performances.
New Swifts coach Nick Bolton was very happy with a solid effort from his side, commenting:
“We were actually disappointed not to get anything from the game. I felt we defended particularly well, and we are now competing in games we previously would have lost convincingly, so it’s a huge improvement, especially from a defensive standpoint.”
The Ledbury third string, eleventh in the table although level on points with Tenbury United Colts just above them following a three-point deduction for Tenbury after failing to fulfil a fixture back in early November, have the luxury of three upcoming home games in March, beginning with a fixture against current sixth place holders Hereford Lads Club Colts this coming weekend, before the next two Saturdays see them face fourth-placed Woofferton and current holders of the second place spot Worcester United Reserves (all games KO 2:30pm at the Ross Road ground).
The Swifts narrowly lost out 4-3 to Lads Club back in early December at the County Ground, when Andy Abbot picked up a brace with Thomas Burton and Harry Holmans also on target for the city-based outfit, as Alex Berry, Will Brandreth and substitute player Dan Fish found the goals for the visitors.
The Ledbury third string will be hoping for more of an improvement however over the 3-0 loss suffered the last time they played Woofferton at the Brimfield and Little Hereford Sports Club, during only the second league game of the season played in September when Jack Lewis found a double for the hosts and Adam Lewis scored the third goal.
The Swifts also narrowly lost out 3-2 to Worcester at the Jewry Field in early November, when a Harry Lock brace and a goal from substitute player Kieran MacDonald overcame the two Ledbury goals scored by Nat Dunk and visiting substitute player Clayton Hodges.
