Understrength Town team pipped in third round

LEOMINSTER, fielding an understrength side including Adrian Evans as a stand-in keeper, bowed out of the West Midlands League Division 1 Cup at the third-round stage on Saturday.

They were always fighting an uphill battle after losing Adie Bennett early on with an injury and then conceding a goal shortly after.

Leominster started with the wind in their faces, and were still trying to reorganise their defence, following the injury to Bennett, when Westley Ferton shot from the edge of the box through a ruck of players to beat the unsighted Evans. They fought gamely to keep the score 1-0 at the break.

Ben Price almost snatched an equaliser in the second half, but his fierce shot was blocked by the legs of the keeper. Mark Ruslin had another chance but headed wide. As Town became more desperate so the home team found gaps in their defence. Their attack was only foiled by a mixture of poor finishing and desperate defending, including one occasion when Neil Bennett cleared off the line with Evans beaten.

Leominster Town 4 Ludlow Town Res 0

AFTER producing a hard-working defensive display in the first half, Leominster went on the offensive to gain revenge for an earlier defeat at the hands of their neighbours in Division 1 South.

Dylan Barrington and Wes Evans marshalled the defence as Ludlow piled on the pressure in the first half.

The home side reversed the trend after the break and took the lead midway through the half. Ben Price crossed from the bye-line and found the unmarked Mark Ruslin who turned the ball past the keeper.

Bobby Aldrich featured in the other three goals, first setting up Price who lobbed home with deadly accuracy, and then converting the third and fourth himself, late in the game.