By Chris Ponter:
Westfields Development 2, Ledbury Town 3
Following a shock 2-2 draw against bottom-of-the-league newcomers Gloucester City Under 21s at Meadow Park earlier in the week, Ledbury Town made repairs to their promising Herefordshire Football League Premier Division campaign this weekend with a 3-2 victory over mid-table Westfields Development at allpay.park, who are also new to the league this season.
The game was not without its strong parallels with the baffling affair of Wednesday night however, as the scoreline again stood at 2-0 to Ian Merrick’s squad at half-time with man of the match Tom Boyle once again finding the net following a sixth minute opener from Ben Febery, only for a more uncertain second period to follow as only a penalty from Boyle prevented the encounter ending in another draw for the unbeaten league leaders as Westfields netted either side of the crucial spot kick.
Development nearly opened their account seconds from the starting whistle when their very first strike rattled the crossbar, before Febery swiftly replied with a great finish after receiving a superb ball from Burns to turn the tables on the hosts from a very early stage.
An opening Ledbury free kick of the affair from captain Joel Skyers led to a corner ball being won by Cosmin Micula against two opposing defenders on the touchline to see the Town skipper deliver the set piece to be cleared away to the far wing, before Westfields raced away on the break only to make the cross to their free man on the near wing a little too late as the visiting defence made the interception.
Referee Les Coultas gave nothing Ledbury’s way despite Burns appearing to be pulled down by a Development defender pursuing him into the box, before the Town striker missed the connection with an 18thminute cross from Micula into the box from twenty yards out on the near wing.
A strong strike from a home attacker on the edge of the box back downfield came off the back of one of his own team-mates in front of him, before Boyle played the ball back into the opposite box, crossing it to Burns after being surrounded by defenders although with his team-mate upfront being unable to produce the finish against the swarm of opposing players around him on the touchline.
Pete Jeynes performed a solid challenge in the visitors’ box back downfield to keep the burgundy and blue shirts at bay, before some further trademark fancy footwork from Boyle brought the ball back into Westfields’ area once more, as the top Ledbury marksman this time managed to produce a shot which was saved at close range by a diving Development goalkeeper.
The ensuing corner ball from Skyers was cleared by the home defence as the Town skipper went on to produce an effort of his own which was saved by the opposing goaltender at the near post, before the sustained attack from the black and white shirts finally paid off on the half-hour mark when Boyle broke through a struggling Westfields back-line to fire the ball home.
Dale Taylor then required treatment on the pitch as Development sportingly gave the ball back to visiting keeper Alex Goode, before a deflection out to Scott Roberts, taking to the field on this occasion to provide some experience at the back in addition to his usual duties as joint assistant coach this season, saw the seasoned defender put the ball over the woodwork.
Febery then came down on the near wing, shaking off the injury as Coultas saw no reason to blow the whistle, and, after a free kick from Skyers was struck over the bar to hit the back fence, stoppage time of the first period saw Boyle being sent flying over the near sideline by a pair of home defenders to see the official give a free kick, much to the disagreement of the city-based players and supporters alike as the set-piece was nevertheless caught in the air by their keeper.
The allpay.park goaltender made one final aerial save to end the first period, with his side going on the attack mere seconds into the latter half of play with a threatening effort which soared wide of the far post, before nervy moments continued for Ledbury when Goode made a goalkeeping error which he albeit managed to skilfully recover.
Town’s opening effort of the second period saw Boyle slip the ball wide of the far post, and, in-between Westfields making their first substitutions of the afternoon, great sustained pressure from Jeynes gave a goal kick to Goode, much to the disapproval of vocal Development fans who felt that their side had won a corner.
A free kick from the hosts landed past the far post as Coultas had words with a frustrated Goode over language aimed at one of his own players, with the visitors’ morale being done no favours when the opposition bagged their opener on the 62ndminute.
Ledbury anxieties were only heightened when a further free kick from Skyers was squandered in landing well wide of the far post before Febery lost the ball to a group of defenders, before the fears of Town supporters were eased when Boyle evaded a challenge in the box, only to be brought down by another member of the Westfields back-line closer to the touchline as the prolific striker wasted no time in successfully coverting the ensuing penalty to restore the valuable two-goal buffer.
Asten Griffiths replaced James Kenny in a first change of personnel from Merrick as a further effort from Boyle was palmed wide of the near post by a diving Development keeper, with the corner ball from Micula being intercepted by a home defender in front of Taylor and Boyle in the box as a double substitution was then made by Merrick with Tom Watkins coming on for fellow veteran team-mate Roberts and Febery being swapped for Chris Wickham.
The Hereford side went on to grab another goal back as the visitors once again faced the real possibility of losing two points to the underdogs with less than fifteen minutes left on the clock, as a further free kick from Skyers was dealt with via a header from an opposing defender.
Burns was exchanged for Morgan Skidmore in a final Ledbury change of the day, before Boyle managed to hold off a trio of defenders near the corner flag for a brief period, only for the Westfields-based linesman to flag in favour of a goal kick to his side much to the vocal annoyance of the top Town marksman, who believed that the ball had come off one of his opponents over the touchline.
Town nevertheless held on relatively comfortably for the five minutes of play which remained to atone for the previous game’s misstep, moving eleven points and seventeen goals clear of Hereford Pegasus Reserves after the current second place holders had their game at Old School Lane against promoted Herefordshire FA County League Division One champions of last season Worcester United postponed this weekend after suffering a 3-2 defeat to Westfields at allpay.park earlier in the week.
Merrick’s men begin November back at New Street on Bonfire Night after completing an ‘on the road’ week of three consecutive away fixtures with a second game of the season against Fownhope (KO 2:00pm), whom they defeated 3-0 away back in mid-September with goals from Skidmore, Boyle and returning forward Pat Morgan as Watkins was named man of the match.
Ledbury then have a first league meeting of the season against current fourth place holders Wellington Rangers under the floodlights at the newly-named Kensal Ground on Tuesday 8th November (KO 7:45pm), before a reverse fixture against Westfields occurs at New Street the following Saturday (KO 2:00pm).
Town also have two important cup fixtures this month, beginning with a second round Herefordshire FA County Challenge Cup rematch against Hereford Pegasus at New Street on 22ndor 23rdNovember (kick-off time to be confirmed) after both sides received byes in the opening round of the contest, before hosting mid-table Ludlow Town Colts on the last Saturday of the month in the second round of this season’s Herefordshire FA Charity Bowl competition (KO 2:00pm).
Merrick’s side made it to the quarter-finals of the prestigious County Cup contest in October last season with a triumphant 6-0 demolition of title holders Hereford Lads Club at New Street, with braces from Boyle and Burns as Roberts and Nathan Ince added to the hosts’ illustrious scoresheet on the night.
Ledbury were then undone in the next round at home a month later against none other than the Pegasus first string with a close 2-1 defeat, with a goal from Ince not being enough to overcome the two marks on the scoresheet scored by Paul Jones and substitute player Jordan Williamson.
Town will have a tough test against promoted Pegasus, who are having an excellent inaugural season in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division, moving up to third place in the league this weekend through a 3-0 victory over Gloucestershire-based Chipping Sodbury Town at Old School Lane as a successful penalty from Carlos Moreira was followed by late goals from Sam Pearson and substitute player Richard Greaves, with Williamson being named man of the match for a particularly fine performance all-round.
Merrick’s squad booked their place in the next round of the Charity Bowl contest through beating title holders Pegasus Reserves 3-1 on penalties after the scoreline stood at three goals apiece after ninety minutes at Old School Lane, four months after the Pegasus second string won the cup by defeating Ledbury with a 3-1 win at the Herefordshire FA County Ground as Ryan Pugh, Zac Blood and Febery put away their spot kicks following a Boyle brace and additional goal from Febery scored during regular time of the two sides’ latest cup meeting.
Ludlow, whom Merrick’s side have already overcome 4-0 during a Friday night fixture under the floodlights at New Street just over a fortnight ago with a goal each from Boyle, Burns, Skyers and Kenny, made it to this season’s Charity Bowl quarter-final with a 2-0 win over Fownhope at The Ludlow Stadium three weeks ago, with the goals coming from Jabez Smith and Luke Hicks even if the latter substitute player along with team-mate Kyle Davies both received yellow cards from referee for the occasion Mark Ammonds.
Reserves record first victory of the season
Ledbury Town Reserves 3, Hinton Reserves 1
Following a run of bad luck during the opening two months of their latest Herefordshire Football League Division One campaign, recording a series of close draws which could easily have resulted in three points being added to their league tally, Ledbury Town Reserves finally achieved the breakthrough they have waited so long for this week, overcoming basement boys Hinton Reserves with a 3-1 victory at New Street.
After a last-minute bicycle kick earned relegated Shobdon a 3-3 draw during the second league game of the season at the reserves’ historic ground, a goalless draw occurred at the same venue a week later against Burghill Rangers during a highly frustrating encounter which featured chance after chance for the hosts to score, and a late Brad Potter equalizer achieved a 2-2 draw against league leaders Hereford Pegasus Colts at Old School Lane a fortnight ago, a win was long overdue for David Butcher and Harry Powell’s young side.
Things were looking good on paper at least for their latest league encounter, having beaten the Hinton second string 4-0 in the opening round of this season’s Herefordshire FA Junior Cup competition at the start of October, when a Sam Branch hat-trick and an additional goal from Kane Bruton achieved the win at Broomy Hill as home player Dan Harris received a 90thminute straight red card from referee Chris Stansbury.
Sure enough, man of the match Kieran Loveridge bagged a brace with Nick Bolton finding a third mark on the scoresheet during the two sides’ latest meeting, even if the hosts couldn’t quite keep the clean sheet as Hinton scored from a corner ball.
Butcher was very pleased with his team’s first win of the season, which he believed had only been a matter of time coming:
“Finally, we managed to get the win on board that we have deserved for a good while now. It was another solid performance from everyone on the pitch, only being disappointing not to get the clean sheet as we conceded from a set-piece. This is definitely something to work on in training.”
“All being well, this win will give us the boost we need to go and get more points on board and start climbing the table.”
The Ledbury second string, seventh in the table but only two points behind Pegasus Colts in fifth, will be hoping to build on this success with a visit to current second place holders Ewyas Harold to begin November this coming weekend (KO 2:00pm).
It will be an affair in which Butcher and Powell’s squad have a score to settle after the Welsh border-based outfit knocked the reserves out of the first stage of this season’s Ross Cup competition with a 3-2 win at a rainy New Street last Friday evening, courtesy of a Luke Price brace and a third goal scored by Matthew Norton which outnumbered the two home goals scored by Loveridge and Alistair Holder.
A three-week break from footballing action will then see the New Street second string face mid-table Kington Town Reserves for the first time this season at home on Saturday 26thNovember, with their next cup encounter being the second round of the Herefordshire FA Junior Cup competition against current Division Two leaders Leominster Town at New Street on Saturday 10thDecember (both games also KO 2:00pm).
Leominster booked their place in the second round of the contest through a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Dore Valley at their Bridge Street Sports Centre venue on the same day Butcher and Powell’s squad overcame Hinton’s reserves outfit the first time round, with a brace from Connor Bufton being accompanied by additional goals from Jordan Arkell, Ryan Botwood and Daniel Ramshaw-Evans.
Swifts gain first point of the season against Lads Club Colts
Ledbury Town Swifts 2, Hereford Lads Club Colts 2
After six losses from six games since the start of the season back in Division Two of the Herefordshire Football League, Ledbury Town Swifts achieved a significant breakthrough this week by gaining their first draw of the season against mid-table Hereford Lads Club Colts at the Ledbury Rugby Football Club Ross Road ground.
The Ledbury third string were optimistic of getting at least something from this second meeting of the season with the Lads Club third string after a 5-3 defeat resulted from their second game of the season at the Herefordshire FA County Ground midway through last month, although it was the Hereford-based outfit who gained a hold in midfield during the first twenty minutes of the rematch as the Swifts just couldn’t seem to keep hold of the ball.
A change of formation for Neil Davis’ young side appeared to be for the better despite going a goal down from a corner ball, with the hosts remaining positive as the second period saw goalkeeper Nick Blakeway making the most of the strong winds down the Ross Road that afternoon to deliver a long goal kick which saw Ledbury man of the match Tom Goodwin get on the end of it and produce a great finish.
The Swifts’ good fortune continued when a visiting defender slipped in an own goal, even if Davis’ valiant squad were determined not to leave things to chance, battling on with Ethan Cox in particular putting in a man of the match-winning performance.
Blakeway made an outstanding save to keep his side ahead, even if the closing minutes saw the hosts unable to defend a free kick to see the city-based outfit equalize at the eleventh hour.
Despite the three points slipping through their fingers, Davis was still delighted and proud of his young team’s performance on the day:
“The boys are buzzing after that performance and result, which they thoroughly deserve. If you had asked me before the game whether I would have taken a point, the answer would have been a resounding yes, but with all the hard work every player on the pitch put in and conceding so late on, it actually felt like a loss to me in the end.”
“We can now go on to the next game however on a real high, and we look forward to achieving our first win which is now only a matter of time.”
The Ledbury third string have the luxury of three further home games throughout November in their continuing quest for a first victory, beginning with a first game of the season against seventh-placed Civil Service this coming weekend, before hosting current fourth place holders Tenbury United Colts a fortnight later after losing 3-1 to them away towards the end of last month (both games KO 2:00pm).
Jamie Farrar, Ashley Giles and substitute player Euan Morgan found the goals for the Tenbury third string during their first meeting of the season with the Swifts at the Brimfield and Little Hereford Sports Club, even if Harrison Dolby picked up a yellow card for the hosts from referee Geoff Banham as Goodwin scored the only goal for the visitors.
Davis’ side will end the month with a rematch against league newcomers and third place holders The Broadleys, who dealt out a 9-0 demolition to Ledbury’s third team at The Hereford Academy two weeks ago with a quartet of goal from Luis Gallimore, a brace from Liam Smith and further goals from Jamie Bake, Tadas Glodenis and Martin Rivett, before the Swifts face higher-ranked Premier Division outfit Hereford Lads Club Reserves in the second round of this season’s Herefordshire FA Junior Cup competition at the Ross Road, after both teams received a bye during the opening stage of the contest (both games also KO 2:00pm).
