A SUPERB performance by Louis Skyers and a workmanlike second half performance earnt Ledbury's Reserves a quarter final place in the HFL Junior Cup.

Ewyas Harold RESERVES 1, LEDBURY TOWN RESERVES 3

With appaling playing conditions and a sodden pitch the divisional gap between the two sides was levelled out and Ledbury were made to battle for the entire 90 minutes.

Ledbury made the ideal start to the game when after Ashley Jones had a perfectly good looking goal disallowed, Jamie James gave them the lead from the spot after Chris Grubb had been held down.

After that the game was one way traffic in favour of the home side. With their number seven running the midfield and their two big strikers thriving in the heavy conditions Ledbury were torn apart. First Skyers saved well to push a long range effort round the post, then on three occasions he made brave one-on-one saves.

Ewyas Harold richly deserved their equaliser but even here Skyers was unlucky when he parried the initial effort but was then held down as the rebound was tucked home.

In the second half Ledbury's play improved, Ashley Jones began to dominate the midfield which allowed Presley and Gardiner to exert more influence on the game. With Jamie James a constant menace up front the threat of a cup upset abated. Ledbury were made to wait for their goal until 15 minutes from the end when after good work from James, Ashley Jones fired home from just inside the box.

The win was confirmed when Jamie James neatly slotted home after good work by Jamie Gladwin. In the dying minutes Ledbury should have extended their lead but James had a penalty saved and Punt hit the bar with a header.

This though would have been unfair on the home side who but for Skyer's first half heroics may have caused an upset.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Ledbury travel to Pencombe.