SWIFTS U14s finally managed a win after a poor run of form and in doing so gained some revenge against a Colts side that had edged a thrilling 5-4 victory three weeks earlier.

Ledbury SWIFTS U14s 3, LADS CLUB COLTS U14s 0

Swifts started brightly and soon took the lead when Harry Weaver played a good ball to Lewis Hodges in space on the right hand edge of the box and he fired home a powerful shot. Thomas Boyle then set-up a chance for Matt Lynnes but he was closed down quickly by the keeper and his shot went just wide. Swifts were having plenty of the ball and put some neat passing moves together, very often started by Thomas Watkins carrying the ball out of defence and Chris James linking well from left back. Matt Lynnes then put in a good cross that was just missed by Harry Weaver but collected wide left by Kieran O'Toole, whose return into the box was collected by the busy Colts keeper. At the other end Alistair Williams in Swifts' goal was enjoying a quiet morning with any rare attacks by the Colts snuffed out by the home defence with Chris Davies making a couple of timely challenges.

The second half started with Swifts continuing the good work and soon the chances were being created. This time Louis Watkins, who was again having a good match at right back, crossed for Thomas Boyle to shoot goal wards only to see the Colts' keeper tip the ball over the bar. Swifts added a second goal when another Thomas Watkins' corner came out to Lewis Hodges on the edge of the box and his low shot went through a crowd of players into the net. Joshua Brookland then had a long range shot go just wide and soon Harry Weaver cut in from the left and fired a powerful shot into the far corner of the net to make it 3-0. Swifts brought on the fresh legs of Ricky Day on the left and Jamie Onions in midfield as the game went on and Lewis Hodges almost got his hat-trick with another good shot that was well saved by the keeper.

Leominster MINORS U11S 5, LEDBURY SWIFTS U11S 0

LEDBURY U11S travelled away on Saturday to play Leominster Minors, a side they had previously beaten 1-0 at home to secure their place in the play offs.

Swifts were weakened by the unavailability of three first choice players. With a fourth picking up an injury during the game, the Swifts were forced to play the game with only the bare 11 players. The visitors started brightly and forced a number of early corners but could not convert the early pressure into goals. Leominster upped the tempo of their game and their passing and strong- tackling midfield unit started to gain control of the game. The Swifts midfield quartet struggled against their Leominster counterparts with only Jack Cooney fronting up to the home side in this vital area.

Swifts were pushed further back but maintained parity with good tackling from David Bryan and Kieran Phillips. Eventually the pressure told and Leominster scored two quick goals to take a decisive lead. The Swifts hit back with Jack Cooney and Sam Keetch combining well to create an excellent opportunity, their team-mate firing his shot wide of the open goal. Leominster, sensing their first ever league victory over the Swifts, continued to push forward and added two further goals to complete a miserable first half for the Swifts.

Leominster started the second half in a confident manner but found the Swifts in a determined mood. Harry Smith, relishing the physical nature of the game, flew into tackles. He, and his defensive partner AJ Smith's tough tackling and clever distribution of the ball unsettled the home side and for the first time in the game the Swifts held the upper hand. Ben Smith and David Bryan worked hard to ensure that Leominster were penned back in their own half. Jack Cooney and Sam Keetch were in the thick of action and created numerous chances. As in the first half, poor finishing and constant offside was to undermine the efforts of Cooney and Keetch. Time and again the Swifts were caught offside giving the home side possession and allowing Leominster to clear their lines. From one such clearance the home side scored their fifth and final goal of the game. The finish, as for the previous four, was clinical and gave Thomas Whatmore the Swifts keeper no chance of saving. This was the Swifts heaviest ever defeat against any opposition. With a number of players unavailable for the remaining fixtures the Swifts will have to improve their willingness and desire to compete at this level if they are to avoid losing all five of their play-off ties.

Their next game is on Saturday at home to Bartestree in what will be a dress rehearsal of the cup final, kick-off 11am.

LEDBURY SWIFTS U10s 4, DYNAMO BARTESTREE U10s 4

(After extra time - Swifts won 7-6 on penalties).

LEDBURY Swifts progressed to the second round of the Vianen Vase after a game which was as controversial as it was exciting, with 26 penalties being required to settle the tie.

It didn't seem like Swifts' day when Matt Rooke had a shot saved then Bartestree waltzed through the defence to score. Ledbury responded well with Ben Brown converting a Joe Crichard cross to equalise moments later. Both sides had several chances and thanks to a good save from Patrick Merryman and strong defending from Jake Cory, David Nash, David Preece and Michael Arlott, Swifts went into half-time all-square.

Bartestree attacked straight after the re-start but Swifts countered quickly; Anthony Watkins sending Brown on a jinking run which ended with a fine individual goal to take the lead. Dynamo stuck to their task and two goals in two minutes saw them re-take the lead as the excitement and tension grew.

Merryman made another good save with a minute left and from the goal-kick, Crichard played the ball into the Bartestree box and in the scramble Brown fired home making it 3-3.

It remained level after the first period of extra time, but after the break, Crichard sent in a perfect chip shot which left both the ball and the Bartestree keeper in the back of the net. But Bartestree hit back and laid siege to the Ledbury goal, the defence held until the last kick of extra time when Bartestree bundled the ball home to make it 4-4.

All square after the first five penalties, meaning a sudden-death shoot-out but with Swifts having their 12th penalty saved, Bartestree needed to score to win; the ball hit the bar, caught Merryman on the back of the head but fell in front of the line. Despite strong protests from Bartestree, the referee ruled it had not gone in; Arlott calmly scored Swifts' next penalty and Merryman tipped Bartestree's shot over to win the match.