SWIFTS returned to winning ways after this narrow home victory over local rivals Bromyard Town.

Ledbury SWIFTS U13s 3,

BROMYARD TOWN U13s 2

Swifts were a little slow to settle against a physically strong Bromyard side but gradually Swifts began to pass the ball well when going forward and they began to look threatening. At the back Thomas Watkins had to keep Swifts defence organised and, with Sam Beale handling well in goal, Bromyard found it hard to create clear openings. Swifts took the lead after about 15 minutes when Ross Davis won the ball in defence, found Joshua Emery who played a great ball through for Thomas Boyle to open the scoring. Swifts now started to play some good passing football despite the windy conditions and soon increased their lead when a great low cross from Louis Watkins set up Thomas Boyle for the second.

Swifts still had to be alert against a spirited opposition and Jamie Onions was working hard in midfield to break up their attacks. Before half time Swifts went three up when Thomas Boyle robbed a Bromyard defender before another fine finish to complete his hat-trick.

Swifts started the second half slowly and Bromyard pressed forward. They soon got back into the match when a cross from the right was handled by Alistair Williams and Sam Beale couldn't keep out the penalty. This rocked Swifts and lifted Bromyard who pushed forward with even greater enthusiasm. Soon they made it 3-2 when a surge down the right flank saw the ball crossed into the box and met by a Bromyard forward, who found the corner of the net. Swifts responded with some better passing moves, particularly down the right where Luis Watkins was getting through a lot of good work. The introduction of Arron Almond and Rhys Gwynne gave Swifts fresh legs as the match wore on and chances came at both ends as both teams played their part. Thomas Boyle came close to adding to Swifts tally with a volley that dipped just over the bar but in the end an entertaining encounter saw Swifts take the points.

BROMYARD TOWN GIRLS U12S 5,

DROITWICH SPA GIRLS 0

GRACE Rogers grabbed a fine hat-trick as Bromyard U12 girls team extended their unbeaten home record in the league against Droitwich Spa.

Bromyard dominated the fixture from start to finish with Town's keeper Winnie Cowley being a spectator for much of the match. By contrast the Droitwich keeper was in constant action, performing heroics on occasions.

Bromyard applied early pressure but failed to make the breakthrough. Then just when it looked as it may be one of those days striker Grace Rogers came to the rescue with a superb goal. She picked the ball up on the edge of the box and hit a fierce shot out of the keeper's reach.

Natasha Merris then increased the lead and Town went into the half time interval two up.

After the interval Bromyard continued to make all the running and had numerous attempts on goal. Captain Clare Almond rattled a long range effort against the crossbar and such was Bromyard's dominance that defenders Hattie Huckle and Charlie Lloyd had time off from their defensive duties to venture forward and have shots on goal.

Grace Rogers made it 3-0 followed by Clare Almond then getting her first and Town's fourth.

Bromyard finally wrapped the game up when Grace Rogers completed her hat-trick. This now brings Grace's total to five goals in the last two games as Town look to challenge the top three teams.

Kington COLTS U12s 0, LEDBURY SWIFTS U12s 4

SWIFTS travelled to Kington last Sunday to play their penultimate game of the scheduled league season and continued their quest for a play-off place with an impressive 4-0 win.

Swifts were quickly into their stride, pushing the Kington defence back with some excellent passing football. Sam Crichard on the right wing had a good contest with his marker all through the game and it was he who had the first strike at goal but his effort was easily saved. Sam Peplow was putting in some telling crosses from the left from which Tom Powell and Chris Savidge both shot wide when well-placed. Luke Perry and Adam Davis were spreading the ball well from midfield and it was Davis who sent Crichard free to cross for Powell to open the scoring. Swifts' defence led by skipper Ashley Nelder and supported by Alistair Park, Jamie Bubb-Sacklyn and Ian Davies were in no mood to let Kington have a strike at Dave Reynolds in the Swifts goal. On 20 minutes Swifts doubled their lead when Crichard and Peplow caught the Kington defence, out with a quickly taken short corner and Bubb-Sacklyn headed home.

Swifts failed to pick up the pace after the break and a more determined Kington pushed hard to get back in to the game, but Swifts defence held firm. After weathering the storm Swifts began to take the game to Kington and were soon rewarded when Crichard got the better of his marker to cross for Powell to score his second. Elliot Parsons then replaced Peplow and straight away put Crichard through, only for a bad bounce to deny him. Crichard was again thwarted when the keeper made an excellent save. Swifts completed the scoring two minutes from time when Perry was left with a simple tap in after another good move.

This win puts Swifts third in the table, their last match of the scheduled fixtures on Sunday could not be harder as they play second-placed Lads Club Colts at home, kick off 2pm.

LEDBURY SWIFTS U11s 5,

BROMYARD TOWN U11s 0

SWIFTS entertained Bromyard in a match crucial to both team's play-off ambitions.

The match started with both teams in determined mood with Bromyard trying to put early pressure on the Swifts goal. The Swifts defence, being marshalled superbly by Aaron Hall with Ally Mitchell tackling strongly in the middle and Neily Florence and Tom Jackson defending the flanks well. Bromyard's chances were kept to a corner, which was gathered well by Clarke Gardner in the goal, followed up by a superb save from a long range Bromyard shot.

The Swifts midfield of Dean Lee, Oliver Ford, Ashley Wadley and Richard Watkins began to assert their authority on the game and mid-way through the half, a good corner taken by Richard Watkins caused panic in the Bromyard defence. Oliver Ford was on hand to fire home from the edge of the box, hitting the underside of the crossbar on the way in for the first goal of the day. Swifts continued to press forward and Alex Morgan had a goal disallowed for off-side and just before half time Dean Lee put a good effort just over the crossbar.

At half time Swifts brought on Ben Adams, who made some excellent runs down the right wing. Tom Messam and Alex Morgan both had good shots denied by the Bromyard keeper but shortly afterwards Ben Adams beat the full back and put in a wicked cross that deflected in off Alex Morgan's chest to make it 2-0. Bromyard kept up the pressure but Aaron Hall and Ally Mitchell kept the centre of defence tight. With 10 minutes to go Tom Messam broke through the Bromyard defence, his first shot being saved by the goalie but managed to tuck the rebound away for 3-0. Within minutes Dean Lee battled his way through on the left and fired home for a well deserved goal. Swifts brought on substitutes Ian Docherty, Tom Green, Ben Gwyther and Felix Goodbody. Bromyard continued to press forward and in one attack hit the crossbar, then the post and finally Tom Jackson chested a certain goal off the line. With time running out Ally Mitchell hit a long ball forward for Alex Morgan to run onto and cap a fine team performance with a final score of 5-0.

Swifts travel to Leominster on Sunday, kick-off 11am.

BARTESTREE DYNAMO U9s 0,

LEDBURY SWIFTS U9s 2

SWIFTS went into their last league match with a play-off place secure but needing maximum points to keep their title challenge alive.

Bartestree made the better start, testing the Ledbury defence but getting no further. Ledbury responded with some strong running in midfield from Jo Crichard, Ben Brown and Ryan Jones, but again they were frustrated by a bustling defence which forced them to shoot wide.

The Swifts' pressure began to tell though, and after 17 minutes a finely weighted through ball from David Preece was met by Matthew Rooke, who made no mistake from close range to give Ledbury the lead at half time.

Bartestree came out determined and they made a number of good runs along the left wing in an attempt to get behind the Swifts defence. After six minutes they won a corner, from which William Keetch got in a shot from close range, only to see Patrick Merryman make an instinctive save to tip the ball over the bar.

Ledbury continued to soak up the pressure as Dynamo searched for an equaliser, and in the last minute they counter-attacked with a strong run on the left from Crichard, and Ryan Jones left his marker standing to latch onto a cross which he planted into the net to seal the match. Ledbury win 2-0 and now wait to see who they meet in their first play-off match in a few weeks.