Ledbury were hoping to complete a hat-trick of wins against the top side in the U16s league when they entertained Hay-on-Wye.

LEDBURY SWIFTS U16s 1, HAY-ON-WYE U16s 1

After weathering some early Hay pressure, Ledbury started to get more into the game. Dan Herbert was unlucky when his shot following a corner was well blocked by a defender

Jason Payne was looking a constant danger and had a number of shooting opportunities. It was Hay who took the lead with almost half an hour played with a close range header from a corner. Tom Smith had to tip another low shot onto the post but Swifts had their chances too with Mark Carless swinging in some inviting cross from the left wing.

Swifts exerted more pressure in the second half and Jason Payne was denied by a great last-ditch tackle when through on goal. Tim Rutherford was targeted by some strong tackles from the Hay players but he found space to turn and fire in a first time shot that needed a good save.

Eventually Ledbury pressure resulted in an equaliser. The ball was crossed into the Hay box and Jason Payne kept his head to fire the ball home through a crowd of players. Hay raised their game and created some anxious moments for the home defence but Swifts weathered the storm and ended the game the stronger side.

WESTFIELDS U12s 0,

LEDBURY SWIFTS U12s 4

LEDBURY Swifts travelled to Westfields last Sunday and on a very poor pitch played some excellent football to run out easy 4-0 winners.

Swifts dominated the first half throughout with early efforts from Tom Powell and Sam Crichard going close. Adam Davis and Chris Savidge were running the show from midfield with their tackling and passing as Swifts piled forward with attack after attack but because of the tricky conditions Swifts' players needed to show a little more composure around the box to add the goals to their approach play.

Swifts defenders easily broke up any attacks that Westfield made and the only time Reynolds in the Swifts goal touched the ball was from a back pass.

The breakthrough came on 20 minutes when good work through the midfield led to Luke Perry being put in to score his first goal of the season and with a superb shot from the edge of the area. Swifts wasted more chances until right on half time Powell tapped in from another goal mouth scramble.

Swifts nearly added a third straight after the break when Sam Peplow's excellent run and cross found Powell, who was unlucky not to score

There were further strikes from Davis and Crichard that tested the keeper but with Swifts failing to add to their score Westfield gave Swifts defenders Nelder, Park, Bubb-Sacklyn and Davies more problems but apart from one chance that the striker hit over the bar, coped well.

Ndlovu, Parsons and Gregory came on for Davies, Park and Crichard, it was Gregory who made an impact straight away forcing two good saves from the keeper. Swifts at last made it 3-0 when from a corner Bubb-Sacklyn latched on to a loose ball to deceive everyone with an incredible looping shot, this was his first goal of the season.

There was still time for Gregory to test the keeper again with a stinging drive and for Powell to grab his second of the game with a neat finish.

This Sunday, Swifts will be hoping for another win in their quest for a play-off place, when they play bottom-of- the-table Wellington at home, kick off 2pm.

Bromyard TOWN U12 GIRLS 2

BREDON COLTS U12 GIRLS 2

TWO defensive lapses cost Bromyard U12s girls' victory in their highly entertaining and good spirited Mercian League home clash with second-placed Bredon Colts at Delahay Meadow.

Bromyard began well and put the visitors under early pressure. It was not surprising then when Town took the lead. It did however require a touch of good fortune with the ball rebounding of a Bredon defender into the path of Bromyard's captain Clare Almond who slotted the ball home.

The lead was not to last though and within 5 minutes Bredon were level. This time the luck was not in Bromyard's favour. Following hesitation in the heart of Bromyard's defence between keeper and defenders, the ball broke and fell into the feet of Clare Almond who sliced her attempted clearance into her own net of the foot of the post. Bromyard's keeper Winnie Cowley, who sustained a hand injury in the initial melee, was able to continue after treatment.

Bromyard's Clare Almond then completed her first half hat-trick of goals by forcing her way through the heart of Bredon's defence and scoring with a firm right foot shot. Further goalmouth action was then thin on the ground and the teams went into the half time break with Town one up.

Breden came much more into the game in the second half. With captain Clare Almond working tirelessly and resolute defending by Hattie Huckle, Charlie Lloyd and Rissa Probert, Bromyard seemed to be heading to victory. Then disaster struck. A Bredon attack broke down and the ball appeared to be going harmlessly out of play. However, in an attempt to stop the ball crossing the line the Town's keeper pulled the ball back into the path of an oncoming Bredon striker, who had the simple job of scoring from a couple of yards.

Bromyard's keeper though more than made amends a few minutes later with an excellent save from a long range effort to keep the scores level. Whilst both teams looked as though they could snatch victory no further goals materialised leaving the teams to share the points.

LEDBURY SWIFTS U10s 9,

BELMONT HAWKS U10s 0

LEDBURY Swifts U10s entertained Belmont Hawks on Saturday in the Herefordshire Junior Football League in what was the first ever meeting between these two sides.

Swifts started the game in a confident manner and the strength of the Swifts midfield trio of Jack Cooney, Gavin Walton and Adam Paske forced the Hawks onto the back foot from the kick off. Belmont tried to push forward, playing with two strikers, but Neil Green and AJ Smith were on top of their game and quickly shackled any threat from the Hawks attack.

Belmont were forced to defend deep in their own half and Sam Keetch opened the scoring for the Swifts. Goals for Gavin Walton and two more for Sam Keetch quickly followed. Belmont responded and keeper Alex Parker reacted quickly to thwart a promising Hawks attack. Swifts rotated their players and Charlie Barrett came on to lead the attack, good inter play with Alexander Firth opened up the Hawks defence but his shot was fractionally too high.

Swifts continued to push forward and Neil Green was unlucky when his long-range shot flew just wide. Jonathan Mowday continued his recent run of good form by slotting home the Swifts fifth goal from just inside the penalty box to give Ledbury a comfortable half time lead.

The second half followed a similar pattern as the first with Jack Cooney and Charlie Barrett dominating the centre of the pitch. Gavin Walton and Neil Green worked hard down the right flank and provided a steady supply of quality crosses into the Belmont penalty area. The Hawks could find no respite as Adam Paske and Sam Keetch added further goals.

Alexander Firth's fierce shot from the edge of the area cannoned off the left upright and with the Hawks struggling to clear the ball Adam Paske stepped up to score the Swifts eighth goal of the game. AJ Smith and Alex Parker both came close to scoring as the Swifts forced a number of corners deep into the final quarter of the game. Another excellent cross from Gavin Walton was side-footed home by an unlucky Hawks defender as the Swifts secured their 16th consecutive league victory.

The win keeps the Swifts at the top of the U10s table.

Tomorrow (Saturday) in the Herefordshire Junior Football League Ledbury Swifts travel to play Hereford Lads Club kick off is at 11.30 am.

LEDBURY SWIFTS U9s 1, FC PHOENIX JETS U9s 0

THIS was a repeat of Ledbury's first round cup tie, even down to the outcome; a match comfortably won, but which should have had a more emphatic scoreline.

As in last year's meeting, it was the Jets who made liveliest start, winning four corners in the first two minutes. They also had their best chance on goal, a shot from the edge of the box by Jack Harris was comfortably punched away by Swifts keeper Patrick Merryman, and from then on the visitors never looked like scoring.

The home side stepped up a gear as Joe Crichard made a strong run down the left wing, going past four Jets players to get into the box, only to see his shot cleared. A minute later, a goal kick was picked up by Ben Brown, passed to Matthew Rooke, moved forward to Ryan Jones who split the defence and slotted it confidently in the top of the net to give Ledbury the lead.

Despite that, the Jets stuck to their task, and while their attacks made little headway, the defence and especially goalkeeper Jamie Combe were determined to keep them in the game.

Ledbury maintained the pressure throughout the second half and Combe made a number of saves to deny several shots from Brown, Jones and Rooke. Ledbury could have had a hatful of goals, but in the end had to settle for one, but it was enough to give them the points.

Tomorrow's (Saturday) match sees second versus first as Swifts travel to meet league leaders Ross United Services.