Ledbury Town are preparing for their biggest match of the season, with the club taking on Hereford Pegasus in the Quarter Final of the Herefordshire FA County Challenge Cup this evening at New Street.
Ledbury, who defeated holders Hereford Lads Club 6-0 in the last round will be buzzing with excitement with the opportunity of securing a place in the Semi Finals up for grabs.
We’ve spoken to Ledbury Town captain Matt Rooke ahead of the tie.
YH: Big game this evening. You were comfortable winners over the holders Lads Club in the last round. What do you expect tonight?
MR: We know it will be a very tough game, against a very good Pegasus side, but this is another great opportunity for us and the sort of game we want to be involved in. As a group we know what we are capable of and hopefully we can showcase that again tonight. We will enjoy the challenge of being underdogs.
YH: The atmosphere was fantastic for the Lads Club match. Do you need them to be the twelfth man again tonight?
MR: Absolutely. The support we’ve had this season has been great and the impact it has can’t be underestimated. Mid-week games under the lights always bring a big crowd, so hopefully we can use this to our advantage.
YH: You are currently top of the Herefordshire County League and have beaten the holders of this cup already. What are the realistic hopes for the rest of the season?
MR: Our main goal this year is to get promoted from the Herefordshire Premier County League and go into Step 6 football next season. However, everyone loves a good cup run and we’re confident that we’ve got a squad that is able to compete in all competitions.
YH: Which player has impressed you the most in your squad this season?
MR: We’ve managed to bring in a few players this year to improve our squad depth. Josh Burns, Ben Febery and Tom Boyle have all come in to the team and are adding plenty of goals. The standout for me so far has been the return of Scott Roberts in the centre of midfield. He’s added a good balance of quality and experience to this team, as well as a couple of important goals.
YH: Do you know much about the opposition?
MR: Yes, Peggy are a very well run club with great facilities. I’m sure they will also be looking to gain promotion this year. They like to get the ball down and play and have had an impressive start to the season, losing only one league game. This will be a good test for us and one we are looking forward to!
