EARLY leaders of the Herefordshire County League Premier division Ledbury Town have seen their gap reduced to just one point as the league has reached its halfway stage.

The league leaders hadn’t played a competitive league game since their 3-0 win over Westfields Development on November 12 – an unbeaten league run of 15 games.

However, after almost two months without a league fixture they showed their rustiness at the turn of the New Year when Ludlow Town Colts ran out 4-1 winners on their home 3G pitch.

Ledbury had looked on course to boost their points tally going ahead on the 36th minute courtesy of recent new signing from Worcester-based outfit New Dales Vale Simon Craddock.

However, the weather turning increasingly sour, with the hosts’ 3G pitch being one of few local league grounds being able to sustain the heavy January rainfall.

The miserable weather became a metaphor for the visitors’ prospects of keeping their good record alive.

Defensive failings from Ledbury allowed Ludlow to equalise on the hour mark before a successful penalty scored three minutes later by the Colts captain put the visitors on a rare backfooting.

The red and black shirts went on the break again six minutes from time to Ledbury their biggest deficit in league play so far this season, with the icing on the cake for a triumphant home side coming three minutes from the final whistle when one of their attackers overcame Ledbury keeper Alex Goode while off his line.

The Colts continued their momentum and drew within three points of the league leaders with a game in hand after a 6-1 victory over Hinton last weekend.

Tom Parry scored in reply for the Hereford visitors. However, a hat-trick from Thomas Dwyer, brace by Aaron Hodges and goal for Luke Hicks gave the Shropshire hosts a 12th win from 15 games.

In the only other game to beat the weather last weekend in the Herefordshire Premier a brace from Luke Allcock led Sporting Club Inkberrow to a 2-1 victory over Kington Town.

Inkberrow have the best league record and are five points behind the league leaders with three games in hand.

Pegasus Reserves are also well amongst the title race currently in second just a point behind Ledbury Town.

Also taking advantage of their 3G surface Hereford Pegasus Colts ran out 8-1 winners against Holme Lacy Reserves.

Will Clare scored a hat-trick while Ashley Lear and Nick Britton each netted braces and Harley Turner the other.