Ledbury travelled to last season's champions for this U16s match and quickly found themselves up against it.

Leominster MINORS 7, LEDBURY SWIFTS 1

After 12 minutes goalie Tom Smith was injured in a collision with a defender, allowing Leominster to open the scoring. Dan Hunter and Tim Rutherford worked hard to get some measure of midfield control, and with some neat passing movements started to look promising. Mark Carless forced a corner, but Leominster broke downfield quickly and increased their lead with a lob over the onrushing goalie. A Tom Locke corner allowed Jack Hodges to claw one back with a good far post header and Dan Herbert fired narrowly wide of an unguarded goal. Swifts seemed to be getting on terms, only for a low cross from a Leominster attack to be steered home to give a 3-1 half-time lead.

Unfortunately Swifts tired in the second half, and Leominster were able to attack at will. Four more goals went in, including an own goal.

WESTON-UNDER-PENYARD 1, LEDBURY SWIFTS 1

LEDBURY travelled to Weston for this mid-week U16s league game.

After five minutes Swifts won a free kick wide on the right, about halfway inside the Weston half. Tom Locke produced a superb curling shot, placed just inside the angle, to score the opening goal. Swifts defence was on form, denying Weston shots at goal. Fullbacks Matt and Sam Hodges battled hard to contain the tricky home wingers, while Tom Locke produced a commanding performance in his new position of centre back.

The half time score was 1-0, but Weston came out in attacking mood and it only took them five minutes to score their equaliser. An excellent cross from the right was headed firmly home, giving goalie Tom Smith no chance of stopping it. From now on it was one way traffic towards the Swifts goal, although Mark Carless and Tom Watts found some space down the left wing. Anthony Bradford worked hard, but suffered a painful injury when he fell awkwardly. There was a lengthy delay and he was taken by ambulance to hospital. With time running out a Weston break saw a striker clear on goal, only for Matt Hinchliffe to sprint back for a perfect saving tackle.

SUTTON U13s 1, LEDBURY SWIFTS 5

SWIFTS bounced back from last week's opening defeat to Leominster with this comfortable away win at Sutton on a hard bumpy pitch.

Sutton opened brightly and with the breeze at their backs forced Swifts on the defensive, but with the defence of Jamie Onions, Ross Davis and Chris James being well organised by Thomas Watkin, new goalkeeper Matthew Lynes was not seriously troubled. It was Thomas Boyle who opened the scoring when he was put clear, and calmly finished in style to give Swifts the lead. Sutton equalised from a corner kick to the near post that skimmed off the head of Watkins and crept in at the far post, but Swifts soon hit back. Following good work by the tireless Joshua Emery and Thomas Boyle, Lewis Hodges finished neatly at the far post. Before half time Thomas Boyle had made it 3-1.

In the second half with the breeze at their backs Swifts never looked in trouble as they pegged back a spirited home side. Two further strikes from Thomas Boyle completed the scoring and gave Swifts their first points of the season.

MONMOUTH LADS CLUB U10s 0,

LEDBURY SWIFTS U10s 3

ON Saturday Ledbury Swifts travelled to play Monmouth Lads Club in the Herefordshire Junior Football League.

Both sides started in a confident manner and attempted to play attractive and open football. However, the comparatively small pitch meant that time and space were at a premium. Swifts were first to threaten going close to opening the scoring with two early strikes. Monmouth struck back and only an excellent save from goalkeeper Alex Parker denied them the opening goal. Neil Green and AJ Smith in the Swifts defence were at their best as the talented Monmouth side pressed forward in search of the opening goal. The Swifts midfield trio of Jack Cooney, Gavin Walton and Adam Paske gradually took control and Monmouth were forced back into their own half. From an extremely tight angle Sam Keetch cut in from the right wing to score the opening goal of the game. Swifts then introduced Alexander Firth and Charlie Barrett into their midfield. Alexander Firth went close to scoring with a powerful header that just missed the target, whilst Charlie Barrett, with his tough tackling, was a constant source of discomfort to the Monmouth midfield.

In the second half Swifts pushed forward in search of a second goal. The Monmouth attack, who were well policed by AJ Smith and Neil Green, were forced to shoot from long range that posed little threat to Alex Parker in the Swifts goal. An excellent early through ball by Sam Keetch gave Gavin Walton the time and space to pick his spot as he scored with a strong shot from the edge of the box. Swifts added a third following good work on the right wing by Alexander Firth. Once again an early delivery gave the defence no time to react and his cross from the right was volleyed home by Sam Keetch.

Golden Valley U10S 0,

LEDBURY SWIFTS U10S 2

ON Sunday Ledbury Swifts travelled to play Golden Valley in their rearranged midweek fixture in the Herefordshire Junior Football League.

With a number of players electing not to play Swifts relied on the same squad of nine that had performed so well against Monmouth the previous day. The pitch, as for the previous day, was comparatively small and this meant that once again play was compressed and time and space were at a premium. Swifts again started strongly and went twice close to opening the scoring in the first five minutes. Strong tackling from the Swifts midfield of Jack Cooney Gavin Walton and Adam Paske broke up a number of promising Golden Valley attacks. Golden Valley were forced to play long hopeful balls that in the main AJ Smith and Neil Green dealt with comfortably. An early through ball from Sam Keetch allowed Gavin Walton time and space to fire home the opening goal from the edge of the area. Charlie Barrett and Alexander Firth were introduced into the game as Swifts pushed forward in search of a second goal. In the second half Golden Valley resorted to a number of heavy tackles and from a free kick Neil Green scored with a long-range effort. Golden Valley reorganised and played with three defenders, the Swifts inability to deliver quality early balls meant that they were unable to add any further goals.

LEDBURY SWIFTS U10s 1,

LEOMINSTER MINORS COLTS U10s 0

ON Tuesday Ledbury Swifts entertained Leominster Minors Colts in the Herefordshire Junior Football League for their third game in four days.

Swifts started the brighter of the two sides and the midfield trio of Jack Cooney, Gain Walton and Adam Paske were quick to impose themselves on the Leominster Minors side. Leominster adopted the use of the long ball and AJ Smith and Neil Green in the Swifts defence were fully stretched as the Minors' tactics proved to be particularly effective. Swifts however, were playing the more constructive football and midway through the first half Sam Keetch opened the scoring for the Swifts following an excellent cross from Gavin Walton. The Minors responded and, following a poor clearance from the Swifts, were denied an equalising goal by a stunning save from Swifts' keeper Alex Parker. Swifts introduced Charlie Barrett and Alexander Firth and the injection of fresh legs swung the game back in favour of the Swifts.

The second half followed a similar pattern with the Swifts passing game negated by the aerial tactic favoured by the Minors. Jack Cooney and Charlie Barrett were instrumental in defence as Swifts hung on for a narrow victory.

On Saturday Swifts entertain Weobley Colts in the preliminary round of the cup.