Junior Soccer Scene ...

SWIFTS opened this U15s league game with promise, Jack Hodges and Tim Rutherford going close within a few minutes of kick off.

Presteigne then started to over run Swifts three man midfield, spraying balls out to the wing to give the visitors a torrid time. Desperate defending was called for, and it took an acrobatic goal line clearance by Matt Hinchliffe to keep a clean score sheet. It wasn't to last as after 20 minutes a defensive header fell to an unmarked Presteigne player who had an easy task of scoring. Then a Swifts free kick was cleared to Dan Hunter, who lobbed the ball back into the goal mouth for Anthony Bradford to head home. Any hopes of a revival were dented when a low shot was deflected in and then a hopeful cross eluded Matt Hodges to sail into the net.

A reshuffled line up at half time gave Swifts more hope, but Presteigne defended tightly and the final ball was too often lacking in accuracy. Halfway through the second half a free kick rebounded kindly to a Presteigne player to score. The scoring was finished by a cracking shot from distance to finally sink Swifts' hopes of ending the season as champions.

LEDBURY SWIFTS U12s 7, LADS CLUB U12s 0

SWIFTS completed another league double with this convincing away win over Lads Club on Sunday.

On a bumpy surface both sides strived for the early pressure in an even opening spell. Swifts had Jamie Onions and Chris Davis covering well at the back while Joshua Emery and Louis Watkins started to get control of the midfield area. Up front Arron Almond and Thomas Boyle were linking well and Alex Kitchen was getting into the danger area as the chances began to come. Half way through the first half Thomas Boyle was put away by a clever ball from Joshua Emery and he gave the keeper no chance. Two minutes later he netted again only to be ruled out by an offside decision. However Alex Kitchen soon added number two when he was on the end of a cross from the right, which he controlled well before firing home. Next Arron Almond played in Thomas Boyle who again gave the home keeper no chance. Before half time Alex Kitchen gave Thomas the chance for another hat-trick which he duly took to put Swifts well in control.

The second half took up where the first had finished with Swifts dominating play in all areas of the pitch and Thomas Boyle soon added number five following a goal mouth scramble. Soon after Thomas broke clear to score his fifth of the match as the Lads Club defence could find no answer to his pace. Swifts continued to pass the ball around well and played some good football despite the bumpy conditions. Following another good spell Lewis Hodges was on hand to add his name to the score sheet with a cool finish into the corner. Thomas Watkins, Joshua Emery and Arron Almond all had good efforts to add to the score and even Sam Beale, who had a quiet afternoon in goal, came up for a corner to try and add to the tally. At the end Swifts could be content with another job well done in a match where the whole squad had played their parts.

LEDBURY SWIFTS U10s 2, HAY-ON-WYE U10s 0

A VERY good all round team performance earned Ledbury Swifts victory, sweet revenge for their defeat by Hay earlier in the season.

Knowing that a win would put them in a good position to gain runners-up spot, Swifts started strongly, wingers Richard Watkins and Dean Lee showed the form they are capable of, forcing the Hay defence on to the back foot and into conceding a number of corners. Oliver Ford tried some long range efforts which had the Hay keeper worried and Tom Messam had a couple of close in efforts well saved. Hay were always dangerous on the break through and Alasdair Mitchell and Aaron Hall needed to be alert to any danger. Swifts needed a goal to settle them down and it came in the 15th minute when Hay failed to clear their lines properly. After yet another corner the ball fell to Aaron Hall on the edge of the penalty area, his strike was clean and true and although it got a slight deflection it could not be prevented from entering the net. Aaron Hall's first goal for the Swifts, he was setting a real captain's example. With confidence rising Swifts pushed forward looking for a second. Tom Messam, Oliver Ford and Richard Watkins all had good chances and Dean Lee shaded the post with a cracking effort just before the break.

Hay came looking for the equaliser at the start of the second half but Aaron Hall and Alasdair Mitchell, well supported by Oliver Ford, Richard Watkins and Dean Lee, prevented any real danger for keeper Robin Minshull. The pace of Dean Lee always troubled the Hay defenders as Swifts re-established midfield control. Tom Messam was also working hard keeping the Hay defenders busy. With ten minutes remaining Swifts were awarded a penalty for a hand ball offence, Aaron Hall stepped forward to dispatch the spot kick into the left hand corner. Hay were deflated and Swifts were well in control enabling them to bring on substitutes Iain Docherty, Ben Adams and Jacob Graham although no one wanted to come off. Both Jacob Graham and Iain Docherty had good chances to increase the lead but Hay defended to the last and cleared the danger.

A well deserved victory for the Swifts from a good team performance, now just Hinton Eagles can prevent Swifts from gaining the runner-up position.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Swifts travel to Phoenix Ajax for the second round of the Vianen Vase.

Leominster MINORS U9s O, LEDBURY SWIFTS U9s 1

LEDBURY Swifts travelled to play Leominster Minors in the Herefordshire U9s Junior Football League on Saturday.

Following last week's game another close game was anticipated. Both sides started off in a confident manner and, as in the previous week, the quality of football was of the highest order. It was the Minors who created the first chance of the game. Poor defending on the right of the Swifts midfield allowed the Minors' winger to cut in from the left and strike a fierce shot. Goalkeeper Alex Parker, whose recent form has been excellent, made a breathtaking save to keep the Swifts in the game. This jolted in the Swifts into action and a flowing move through the midfield should have resulted in the Swifts' opening goal, only for the move to break down following the delivery of a poor final ball. Neil Green and Ben Smith in the Swifts defence kept tight control of the Minors forwards denying them any further goal scoring opportunities. AJ Smith and Charlie Barrett were introduced into the Swifts defence and midfield and, as in the previous week, their uncompromising tackling gave the Minors no opportunity to threaten the Swifts goal. The half time score was level at 0-0.

The second half saw Swifts introduce William Reid into their defence and Jonathen Mowday into midfield. The introduction of Jonathen was to have a dramatic effect on the game. With five minutes of the second half gone Swifts scored the only goal of the game. The move included all of the Swifts outfield team and was a credit to their unselfish teamwork. The ball was worked from the Swifts half via William Reid and Neil Green to Jonathen Mowday. His excellent early cross gave the Minors defence no time to regroup. The ball was flicked on by Jack Cooney to Sam Keetch who squared the ball to Adam Paske to score the Swifts first ever goal against the Minors. The Minors were desperate to equalise and tried to attack the Swifts goal. Neil Green and William Reid were in excellent form and the Minors were restricted to one long range free kick. Clever work by Charlie Barrett, Jack Cooney and Sam Keetch kept the ball firmly in the Minors half as the Swifts hung on for victory. Next week Ledbury Swifts are again on League duty when they travel away to play Hinton - kick off is at 10.30am.