Malvern Town 1 Ledbury Town 2

LEDBURY overcame a number of obstacles to take the West Midland League Premier Division points off leaders and local-rivals Malvern.

Going into the fixture without three of their most influential players they were further hampered when their keeper failed to turn up and they had to call on reserve team striker Chris Grubb to play in goal.

This was not the end of their problems as Towan Ravenscroft was forced to retire with a foot injury and Mark Green was dismissed to leave them battling out the final ten minutes with ten men.

With Grubb producing a man-of-the-match performance the Ledbury defence held firm against all the five-man home attack threw at them in the first half and then added insult to injury by taking the lead just before the break. Stuart Hall smashed a 35-yard free kick into the top-corner.

Duncan Preedy, playing alone up front, doubled the tally midway through the second period. After Green's dismissal Malvern finally scored, but amazingly it was Ledbury who went closest in the final moments with Neil Gardner striking the post.