14/2/03 - Bell delay Allstars but leaders take charge

This local derby lived up to expectations keeping spectators entertained throughout.

The game started at a frantic pace and it was the villagers who opened the scoring when Chris Grubb slotted home past the advancing Glyn Morris.

The home side kept pressing forward and were rewarded by a second goal when they broke down the right wing and the ball was smashed into the net from a tight angle by Dave Beech.

Half way through the first half the Bull were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal. The ball was shifted and Nick Welch unleashed a thunderbolt beyond the home 'keeper Luke Ledbury and into the top corner of the net.

Shortly afterwards, the Bull were awarded another free kick and again the ball was shifted to Welch whoss shot this time took a slight deflection on its way in.

The Bell started brightly in the second half and almost scored within minutes of the restart when Jerry Cowdery was caught in possession but the Bull scrambled the ball to safety. Jamie James had been kept quiet in the first half by Pete Brown but soon came into his own when played through by Nick Loader. He beat the offside trap and under pressure coolly rounded the 'keeper to slot home the third for the visitors.

Nick Loader was again provider when his pin point cross found man of the match Welch at the back post to toe the ball passed the advancing 'keeper. An unfortunate deflection from a Paul James centre took the ball passed the home 'keeper to make the score 5-2. The Bell didn't give up and their pressure paid off when a push on their man of the match Dave Beech resulted in a penalty which was neatly slotted home by Mark Herbert. The game then opened up and Jamie James rounded off the scoring with his second when a mix up between Brown and the 'keeper left him with the simplest of tap ins.

Dynamo Ledbury extended their unbeaten run to five games through a hard fought 1-1 draw when they travelled to Upton to face second placed team Talbot Head.

The home side opened the scoring early in the first half after Lee Watts took the chance to pounce on a ball punched out by the keeper from a free kick. The Ledbury side had been unlucky not to take the lead shortly before this when striker Jon Walker saw his powerful shot drift wide. The Ledbury boys worked well for the rest of the half, snuffing out the Upton team's attacking runs and creating several more chances for Walker and his fellow striker, man of the match Dan Lucas, but the score remained at 1-0 at the break.

Dynamo started strongly in the second half and worked hard to dominate much of the play against the higher placed opposition, creating several chances with excellent running off the ball by the strikers and wingers Matt Williams and Rich Davis.

This hard work was soon rewarded when a powerful header by captain Adam Thomas met midfielder Ray Shakesheff's perfectly placed free kick to level the score at 1-1. Dynamo then caught the home defence on the break several times only to be thwarted by keeper Gary Baldwin who made several excellent saves.

Dynamo Ledbury, sponsored by Saddle Bound Cycles, welcome Morgan Aero 8 to their New Street ground this Sunday.

Club AC 30 were too strong for home side Brewery and were 2-0 up at half time with both goals coming from John Howard. Howard completed his hat-trick in the second half for AC and Jason Peyton Smith added another one. Jason Locke got the Brewery consolation.

Madresfield were completely outplayed by Green Dragon losing 9-0 at home.

In a very even match Kempsey United Reserves took the lead early on against Morgan Aero 8 who fought back to level the score. Kempsey got the winner with ten minutes left on the clock.

Worcester Junior collected another three points when they beat Eeore 2-0, Chris White scored both the goals.

In the youth division Hereford Lads Club outplayed Libbery to run out easy winners by 0-5 and Barnards Green defeated Battledown Saracens 2-1.

There is a league meeting at the RSRE club on Monday (February 17).