Ledbury Swifts took a depleted squad of just 11 players to this U16s league game.

WESTON UNDER PENYARD U16s 4, LEDBURY SWIFTS U16s 3

Goalie Tom Smith was unavailable and Matt Hodges took over in goal. The first half started in fairly low key fashion. After 15 minutes good battling work by Tom Watts and Mark Carless down the left created an opening for Jack Hodges to fire just over from a narrow angle. Five minutes later the home side took the lead. Weston's corners caused problems throughout the game and when a shot ricocheted onto the underside of the bar it was forced home by a home player. This was the only blemish from the Swifts' defence, Dan Hunter worked as hard as ever and Tom Locke and Matt Hinchliffe put in some rugged tackling.

One down at half time, Swifts came out after the break looking for an equaliser. After seven minutes Jack Hodges latched on to a through ball and when his shot was beaten away, Matthew Cale remained calm to steer the ball home. Swifts now upped the pace and a driving run from Tim Rutherford created another opening for Jack Hodges to score with a powerful shot. Swifts did not hold their lead for long. Another corner was tapped in at the far post to make it 2-2. Tim Rutherford shot over from a corner at the other end and Dan Herbert acted as playmaker, picking out some great passes. On 25 minutes another deep corner was headed firmly home by an unmarked Weston player. Swifts were reduced to ten men when Jack Hodges hobbled off, and Weston pushed more men forward. Their superiority told when yet another deep cross left a simple finish to make it 4-2. Swifts kept working and in the dying seconds and Tim Rutherford scored from a long range free kick.

LEDBURY SWIFTS U13s 0, WESTON U13S 1

SWIFTS took on high-flying Weston for the third time this season and with matches level at one each another close game was expected.

Swifts started at a good pace and Weston were also playing their part in a fast opening but Swifts defence of Chris Davies, Ross Davis, Chris James and Thomas Watkins were covering everything well. Swifts continued to make the better chances as the half went with Jamie Onions making some telling tackles in midfield and captain Joshua Emery playing some good passes forward. Form a Joshua Emery free kick Thomas Boyle just failed to get on the end as the keeper collected the ball. A few minutes later Rhys Gwynne and Thomas Boyle combined down the right but this time Arron Almond just failed to get the finishing touch.

The second half followed a similar pattern with Weston maybe starting a little better than Swifts. Swifts continued to pass well but without finding a way through before the decisive goal came about ten minutes into the half when Swifts failed to stop an attack down the left flank which gave Weston a chance in the box. Sam Beale did well to parry high into the air but it dropped just under the bar and was touched in by the on rushing attacker.

Swifts suffered another blow soon after when the influential Joshua Emery had to leave the field of play with an injury, but with the introduction of Louis Watkins and Ally Williams they still pressed forward. Lewis Hodges was now getting more into the game in midfield with the game becoming more stretched out at both ends and Josh Brookland came into action with Swifts trying hard to draw level. Swifts almost equalised when Arron Almond collected a poor goal kick and fired in a shot that went just wide. Then soon after Louis Watkins' clever play on the right set up Arron again with a chance but the keeper made a great parry only for the loose ball to come out to Thomas Boyle but the fired just over the bar.

LEDBURY SWIFTS U12s 9, WELLINGTON U12s 0

LEDBURY Swifts continued their winning run with a dominant victory over league strugglers Wellington.

From the kick off Swifts showed their superiority with a classy move up the right wing with Crichard's pin point cross for Powell to open the scoring in under 20 seconds with a crisp finish. Swifts were camped in the Wellington half, with sustained pressure the opposing defence gave way and Savidge made it two with a fine shot from the edge of the penalty area. The game was marshalled from midfield with quality passing from the ever present Adam Davies and Elliot Parsons, Ndluvdv causing problems as well linking with Peplow on the left who found Powell with a great cross to score his second and Swifts' third. Crichard was next to add to the score sheet with a good finish to an individual run down the right flank. Unrelenting pressure could only lead to one thing and within minutes Powell completed his hat-trick following a goal mouth scramble. Minutes before half time the ball came loose in the area for Peplow to hammer home.

Half time came which gave Wellington time to regroup and they came out for the second half determined to play better. Two substitutions were made for Swifts with Hilling replacing Powell and Gregory coming on for Ndluvdv. Ledbury again had most of the play but the Wellington defence held firm with Bubb-Sacklyn a tower of strength in the Swifts back line.

Ashley Nelder, Swifts skipper, provided support to the left side and was unlucky to see a shot go wide. Shortly after, another good passing move down the left provided Gregory with the chance to slot the ball home from close range. With Wellington's keeper making fine saves from first Peplow and then Crichard a fabulous passing move on the right starting with Perry, Davies linking well with Parsons who put Crichard through to score his well deserved second and Swifts eighth. Following five Ledbury corners, Hilling scored the ninth from close range.

With a weekend off this week, Swifts travel to Kington on February 8.

Bromyard TOWN GIRLS U12S 3,

BROADWAY UNITED GIRLS U12S 0

BROMYARD U12s Girls returned to winning ways with a comfortable victory in their Mercian League encounter with Broadway United.

Bromyard who had been knocked out of the cup by Broadway were keen to prove a point and soon put the visitors under pressure, forcing several corners.

Bromyard were rewarded for their commitment and enterprise when 10 minutes into the first half, back in form attacking midfielder Tasha Merris wrong-footed a defender and the coolly shot past the keeper. Bromyard continued to press forward and after seeing one effort narrowly go over the bar increased their lead from a corner kick. As the ball came in, Mickie James, venturing up from the back, made a run to the near post and first time hit the ball past the Broadway keeper, who remained rooted to the spot.

During the interval Bromyard made a couple of changes including putting their first half defensive star Charlie Lloyd into goal. This together with the other changes meant Bromyard initially lost their rhythm as the half got underway.

Nevertheless, midway through the second half normal service was resumed when substitute Rachel Newman remained calm to beat the Broadway keeper with a right foot shot from near the penalty spot. Bromyard then had several half chances to emphasise their superiority.

However at the death it needed two good saves from stand-in keeper Charlie Lloyd to prevent the visitors from grabbing a consolation goal.

Bromyard after a number of disappointing results recently should take heart from this win as they look to step up their challenge on the top four teams.

LEDBURY SWIFTS U11S 6, Golden Valley U11S 1

SWIFTS started the game very slowly with their passes going astray and a lack of communication resulting in Golden Valley deservedly taking the lead on 10 minutes.

This brought the Swifts to life and the mid-field of Neilly Florence, Oliver Ford, Richard Watkins and Dean Lee soon gained the upper hand. Twenty minutes into the game Tom Messam capitalised on some loose Golden Valley defending and slipped the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 1-1. Swifts were now back in the game and a good ball forward from Tom Green met Jack Vernall who hit a tremendous shot just over the cross-bar. Tom Messam then seized upon a poor clearance from the goalkeeper returning it with interest to make it 2-1, minutes later a replica goal gave Tom Messam his hat-trick. At half time Swifts started brightly with the fresh legs of Ben Adams Ashley Wadley and Ben Park. Dean Lee was a constant threat turning the Golden Valley defence inside out on the left wing. A quick break from Ben Adams on the right led to Richard Watkins crossing again to Tom Messam who hit an acrobatic bicycle kick over the goalie to make it 4-1. Swifts defensive back 4 of Aaron Hall, Ally Mitchell, Ben Park and Ton Jackson were well in control giving goalie Clark Gardner little to do in the 2nd half. Dean Lee yet again provided the service from the left for Ashley Wadley to shoot home for 5-1. Liam Almond replaced Tom Messam almost immediately breaking forward with a pass to Dean Lee who crossed in a perfect ball to Ben Adams to slot home making the final score 6-1.

Next week Swifts travel to Weston, kick-off 11am.

Hereford LADS CLUB U10S 1,

LEDBURY SWIFTS U10S 1

LEDBURY Swifts travelled to Hereford to play Lads Club in the Junior Football League on Saturday.

Swifts started the brighter of the two sides and carried the early threat as both teams adapted well to the heavy conditions. Sam Keetch tackled a Lads Club defender on the left wing and his cross was fired home by Gavin Walton to give the Swifts a deserved lead. Swifts became complacent and pushed forward in search of further goals. An excellent through ball was played to the Lads Club striker who turned and escaped his marker. Swifts keeper Alex Parker brilliantly saved his fierce initial shot, the ball fell invitingly to the edge of the area and, in the absence of any Swifts players to make a challenge, the Lads Club midfielder calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net. Swifts were visibly shaken by the goal and struggled to retain possession of the ball through a combination of poor passing and tackling. Lads Club played some delightful one and two touch football that left the Swifts chasing shadows. Keeper Alex Parker made three excellent saves including a goal bound header from a Swifts defender. Just before half time Swifts could have taken an unlikely lead but the shot was slightly wide of the mark.

The Swifts continued to struggle in the second half. Keeper Alex Parker, who was the man of the match, made further saves to deny Lads Club the goals they deserved. Jack Cooney was tireless in defence and made countless tackles as slowly he dragged the Ledbury side back into the game. In the final 10 minutes the roles reversed as the fitter Swifts side laid siege to the Lads Club goal. The Hereford side, desperate to maintain parity, pulling players back into their own half. In the dying minutes, after good inter play between a number of players, the Swifts had the chance to snatch victory but the effort flew agonisingly over the bar. In a pulsating game the Swifts were relieved to secure a point and extend their unbeaten run to 18 games in the League.

Next Saturday the Swifts entertain Weobley Colts in the Herefordshire Junior Football League kick off is at 11.30am.

LEDBURY SWIFTS U9s 0,

ROSS UNITED SERVICES U9s 2

SWIFTS deserved to come away from this top-of-the-table clash with at least a point, but two late lapses of concentration left them recording their first league defeat.

Ross arrived with a 100 per cent record and 67 goals, and staged a number of early attacks. But they were forced to work hard to make any headway against Ledbury's defence, with David Nash, Michael Arlott and Joe Crichard standing firm and breaking down the visitors' passing game. Swifts goalkeeper Patrick Merryman played a crucial part in keeping them in the match during United's early pressure, making a number of instinctive saves including a tip over the bar after nine minutes from a seemingly unstoppable shot from Tom Parry. Ross did appear vulnerable on the counter-attack, and Ledbury had their best chances a minute later when a goal kick was picked up by Ryan Jones, played on to Matthew Rooke whose cross was cut out by Ross' keeper Ashley Stanton. Good running from Joe Crichard and Ben Brown gave Jones another chance but again his shot drew a solid save.

Ross re-applied the pressure in the second half, but while they had a number of shots they either went wide or were picked up by keeper Merryman. Despite their solid performance, Ledbury's concentration slipped five minutes from time; a goal kick was intercepted early, Elliot Payne got behind the defence and his long-range shot just slipped under Merryman's legs to put Ross ahead. Their second came from a free kick; Parry left his marker standing to reach the ball and score from close range. A disappointing result for Swifts after a tight hard-fought game, and they travel to Bartestree Dynamo on Saturday week for their last regular match before the play-offs.