Ledbury Town 3, Westfields Development 0
A brilliant all-round performance from Ledbury Town secured a fine 3-0 win at New Street this week, in what was the second time in the space of a fortnight that the Herefordshire Football League Premier Division leaders had locked horns with young league newcomers this season Westfields Development.
Unlike the two sides’ recent previous meeting at allpay.park two Saturdays previously, Ian Merrick’s stellar squad put in a dominant and assured performance throughout to take the three points, after the first encounter was reliant on man of the match Tom Boyle scoring a 70thminute penalty in-between second period Westfields goals from Zach Johnson and Harley Morris to secure the win following first-half marks on the scoresheet from both the top Ledbury goalscorer and Ben Febery.
A feisty and physical Development outfit picked up no fewer than four yellow cards from referee Ian Jervis during their latest engagement with Town, being lucky not to give away as many as three penalties during the opening 35 minutes before their luck ran out five minutes from the interval, when Boyle was finally given the chance to convert another one of his trademark spot kicks to break the deadlock.
New home signing this season Ryan Pugh put the black and white shirts firmly in the driving seat through finding the net twice within half an hour of the latter period having elapsed, with the Hereford-based side being dealt another blow when Jervis ordered their aggrieved manager to leave his dugout with a straight red card.
After an impeccably-deserved minute’s silence from both teams took place in honour of all those who have given their lives in conflict for our country, with Ledbury Town Football Club’s poppy wreath which was placed on the town’s war memorial during the Remembrance Sunday service the morning afterwards taking pride of place at the kick-off spot, the affair began with a very early injury worry for the hosts when Pete Jeynes was brought down on the near wing upfield after barely two minutes had elapsed to see new joint assistant Ledbury coach this season Scott Roberts needing to provide some on-the-pitch treatment.
An opening free kick from the visitors taken up the far end on the opposite wing flew past all the bodies in the box, before the city-based goalkeeper raced off his line to beat an incoming Pugh to the ball in the box in the first Town attack of the game.
The first moment of controversy occurred as early as the seventh minute when the hosts’ eventual brace-scorer that afternoon appeared to be fouled by an opposing defender on the run down the far side of the box, with penalty calls from the sizeable crowd of around a hundred Ledbury supporters that day being ignored by Jervis.
The official conferred with assistant referee Luke Davies when Westfields argued that a flag should have been raised from the near sideline following a challenge from Pugh on the near wing, before a superb cross from Town captain Joel Skyers from just inside the near edge of the box was nodded over the crossbar by Boyle in a first prime opportunity on a very-much-unlucky thirteenth minute of play for the hosts to open their account.
The Development keeper made a great save at the near post to deny a threatening twenty-yard effort from Ben Febery on the quarter-hour mark, and, after a number of Ledbury corner ball opportunities couldn’t provide them with an opening mark on the scoresheet, visiting midfielder Zachary Bruton received his side’s first booking of the encounter for a late challenge committed against Dale Taylor on the near wing.
The free kick awarded to Town was struck by Skyers to land past the far post over the touchline, as Matt Tristram was able to perform a good covering clearance from the opposing attacker lurking near him on the touchline back up the far end when Pugh missed an intended header in the box to deflect a good Westfields ball from the far wing.
The half-hour mark of play saw Development narrowly escape giving the hosts a penalty opportunity for a second time when Jervis ruled that Skyers was sent tumbling on the literal edge of the box by a pair of visiting defenders, as the free kick from Boyle, built up with much promise after the top Ledbury marksman’s infamous 77thminute spot kick won a memorable 1-0 victory over arch league rivals Hereford Pegasus Reserves at Old School Lane three weeks previously, was struck past the seven opposing players in front of him to fly past the near post in anti-climactic fashion.
A terrific 25-yard effort from Boyle on the near wing was palmed over the bar via an equally-terrific save from the Westfields goaltender, before the league Golden Boot winner of last season received the ball in the box, striking it downwards into the net but not without Davies raising an offside flag.
The drama continued into the 35thminute when Boyle was sent sprawling flat on his stomach in the box, with Development receiving another major let-off when Jervis ruled out a further penalty following a further discussion with Davies, having words with frustrated other half of the assistant Town management duo Sam Dixon in the process as Boyle briefly retreated to the dugout to recover from the challenge.
The visitors’ fortune finally expired when Jervis booked Zac Jones for pushing Febery over in the box during the taking of a Skyers corner ball, setting the stage for a vengeful Boyle to slot home the penalty to deservedly get his side off the mark as Jacob Martin picked up a third yellow card for his side before the first period was up for a late challenge performed on the far wing downfield.
The latter half of play began with strong parallels to the first when Pugh came down in front of the far post upfield, even if a second early injury worry for the hosts saw their new signing this season put away his first goal barely a minute after getting back to his feet, as Jervis consulted Davies once again to confirm a decision against Ledbury.
Better play from the yellow and blue shirts on the 58thminute saw them evade Cosmin Micula on the near wing to produce an effort which travelled wide of the far post, with one of their incoming forwards being unable to reach it in time as it escaped over the touchline as Jervis then gave a throw-in to Tom Watkins from the near sideline, much to the disagreement of the opponents of the Town’s industrious man of the match that afternoon.
Westfields received their final booking of the day for a risky high foot which brought Jeynes down in the hosts’ box, before solid defending from Tristam kept the ball away from a Development attacker on the far touchline as Alex Goode, having relatively little to do on goalkeeping duties for Ledbury as a result of his side’s dominance that afternoon, safely caught a 65thminute aerial effort from the far wing.
The Town goaltender called for his team-mates to maintain their tempo and not rest on their laurels at 2-0 up as the away manager was given his marching orders, before the visitors’ afternoon went from bad to worse when Pugh completed his double through flicking a well-taken Febery free kick into the net.
Watkins made a decisive powerful aerial clearance over the neighbouring cemetery wall on a run down the near sideline with a group of opposing attackers, before Merrick chose to make a triple substitution with his team in such a commanding position with twelve minutes left on the clock as Jeynes, Micula and a satisfied Pugh came off for Lewis Williams, Josh Burns and Chris Wickham.
Westfields put a close-range effort over the woodwork on a run into the box as Taylor protested to Davies over an offside flag not being raised against the Development striker, and, after a corner ball from the visitors rattled the far post, Watkins successfully dealt with the follow-up attack as Roberts was called into action once again to assist Febery who came down with a late injury within the centre-circle.
The stricken home forward was brought off for Morgan Skidmore for the remaining five minutes as Merrick took the opportunity to swap Tristram for Ledbury Young Player Award winner of last season James Kenny, and, after Williams nodded a great ball from the near wing clear while under pressure in the box, Goode voiced his disapproval when Boyle fouled an opposing attacker on the near wing with minutes to go.
Williams was again on hand to header the ensuing free kick clear of the box, before a late burst of good play from Westfields saw one of their strikers produce a superb effort from a challenging angle towards the near side of the box, soaring between two Town defenders to be squarely caught by Goode.
Kenny performed a solid stoppage time defensive header to deal with a final Development ball from the far wing as a jubilant home side celebrated a job well done, securing a twelfth win of the season, maintaining a remarkable fourteen-game unbeaten streak with only two draws, and moving thirteen points and nineteen goals clear of the Pegasus second string.
Ledbury are now out of league action for the time-being, facing formidable third-placed other newcomers this season Sporting Club Inkberrow FC in a Friday evening fixture at New Street to be played on 2ndDecember (KO 7:45pm), before their final games of the year take place against current ninth-place holders Holme Lacy away and lowly Tenbury United at home over the following two Saturdays (both games KO 2:00pm).
Town are yet to play Sporting Club Inkberrow or Tenbury this season, but have already defeated Holme Lacy with a 2-0 win at home during the very first league game of the season played back in mid-August, when a first goal of the season for the black and white shirts from Skyers was followed by Febery finding the net on the 81stminute.
The New Street first string’s previous visit to Holme Lacy’s ground twelve months ago was rather less fruitful however, ending in an unexpected goalless draw despite Ledbury being on a real high having caused a major upset in the first round of the Herefordshire FA County Challenge Cup competition at their historic ground three days previously, overcoming Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division outfit Hereford Lads Club with a magnificent 6-0 victory as braces from Boyle and Burns, as well as goals from Nathan Ince and Roberts, secured a memorable win.
On the subject of the County Challenge Cup, Town are also set to face current Hellenic League Premier Division fourth place holders Hereford Pegasus at home on 22ndNovember (KO 7:45pm), after both sides received byes in the opening round of the contest, before Merrick’s men host fourth-placed Herefordshire League Premier Division rivals Ludlow Town Colts just four days later in the second round of this season’s Herefordshire FA Charity Bowl competition (KO 2:00pm).
Following their emphatic win over Lads Club, Ledbury were undone in the quarter-finals of last season’s County Cup at home a month later against none other than the Pegasus first string, when a close 2-1 defeat resulted after a goal from Ince was not enough to overcome the two marks on the scoresheet scored by Paul Jones and visiting substitute player Jordan Williamson.
Town booked their place in the next round of this season’s 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 on 23rdSeptember, four months after the Pegasus second string took the silverware through defeating the New Street senior outfit with a 3-1 win at the Herefordshire FA County Ground.
The more recent cup encounter between the two arch rivals saw Pugh, Zac Blood and Febery put away their spot kicks with Goode making two terrific saves during a nail-biting penalty shootout, following a Boyle brace and additional goal from Febery being scored earlier as Corey Ellis, Harvey Evans and home substitute player Charlie Jenkins all found the net for the reserves, even if team-mate Marc Avery was sent off with a double booking from Jervis.
Ludlow, whom Ledbury have already overcome 4-0 during a Friday night fixture under the New Street floodlights just over a month ago with a goal each from Boyle, Burns, Skyers and Kenny, made it to this season’s Charity Bowl quarter-final via a 2-0 win over Fownhope at The Ludlow Stadium a month 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 Mark Ammonds.
Swifts net first win of the season
Lickhill Colts FC Saturday 1, Ledbury Town Swifts 3
After a wait of over two months and nine games, Ledbury Town Swifts finally achieved their first victory of the season in Division Two of the Herefordshire Football League this week, overcoming Lickhill Colts FC Saturday with an emphatic 3-1 win away at Stourport.
After the disappointment of the Ledbury third string’s first encounter against the struggling league newcomers at the Ledbury Rugby Football Club Ross Road ground a month ago, when the Swifts’ worst performance of the season so far saw only a single consolation goal being scored by man of the match Jasper Wilce for a 4-1 defeat, the visitors put in a fine performance during the second meeting against their lower table rivals as Tom Goodwin found a brace, with Jamie Roberts also on target for the black and white shirts.
With Neil Davis and Nick Blakeway’s young squad having several players out through injuries on the day, reserves players Jai Smallwood and Nick Bolton were able to step in on account of the New Street second string having no fixture that day as the Swifts started off on the front foot, with the half-hour mark seeing Goodwin score his first of two through meeting a great cross from Jasper Wilce with a superb volley.
The visitors continued their good form into the second period, keeping Lickhill at an arm’s length as Roberts scored a second goal to ease the pressure, with Goodwin providing the icing on the cake through completing his double even if a late spot of poor Ledbury defending allowed the Colts to grab a consolation goal back on the 90thminute.
With Harry Millis taking the latest Swifts man of the match accolade, Davis was delighted with his young side’s first full three points of the season, even if the late lapse of concentration left a somewhat bitter taste in the mouth:
“After making the trip up to Stourport, I’m more than happy with the result which the lads achieved. I’m not as happy about conceding at the last minute, and we never really played the quality of football I know we are capable of usually playing, but it was a tricky pitch.”
“We got the points, and that’s the main thing.”
The win finally lifted the Ledbury third string off the foot of the league table for the first time this season, as new basement boys Lickhill were reduced to zero points following non-fulfilment of a fixture against high-flying fellow league newcomers and current third-place holders The Broadleys at The Hereford Academy a fortnight ago.
The Swifts next face fifth-placed Tenbury United Colts at New Street this coming weekend, before playing The Broadleys for a second time this season the following Saturday at the Ross Road (both games KO 2:00pm).
Davis and Blakeway’s side will be looking to improve upon the 3-1 defeat suffered against the Tenbury third string at the Brimfield and Little Hereford Sports Club towards the end of September, when Goodwin scored the only goal for the visitors as Jamie Farrar, Ashley Giles and substitute player Euan Morgan found the net for the Colts, even if Harrison Dolby picked up a yellow card for the hosts from referee Geoff Banham.
The Broadleys dealt out a 9-0 demolition to Ledbury at The Hereford Academy a fortnight ago with a quartet of goals from Luis Gallimore, a brace from Liam Smith and further goals from Jamie Bake, Tadas Glodenis and Martin Rivett.
The Swifts will play Dore Valley at the Seven Site on Saturday 3rdDecember for a first time this season, before playing current Herefordshire League Division One leaders 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).
