Under 12s Reports - 2004-05

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Wed Apr 20: League Play-Off Match 3
Hereford Lads Club - 1
Ledbury Swifts - 2 ()
No report available.

Sun Apr 17: IMI Mouldings Cup - Semi-Final
FC Phoenix Milan - 3
Ledbury Swifts - 0
No report available.

Wed Apr 13: League Play-Off Match 2
Ledbury Swifts - 4 ()
FC Phoenix Milan - 1
No report available.

Sun Apr 10: League Play-Off Match 1
Ledbury Swifts - 4 (Messam, Lee, Matthews 2)
Bartestree - 1
Bartestree arrived eager to improve on their recent Supplementary Cup encounter, which Swifts won 0-4. As the only team to have taken a league point from Swifts so far this season, they were ready to battle for a win in this play-off match. Swifts were keen to maintain their unbeaten record and both sides fought hard for the first goal, with Dean Lee causing several upsets in the visitors' defence with penetrating runs down the left-wing. Bartestree then came close but Aaron Hall was on hand to steer the ball over the bar and out of danger, after it had bounced badly for Tom Jackson. Shortly after the resulting corner, Bartestree went 0-1 up following a cracking long-distance shot which gave keeper Jackson no chance. For a team not used to trailing behind their opponents, Swifts showed great character and did not let their heads go down. Neely Florence, Hall, Ally Mitchell and Tom Green maintained a stout defence which Bartestree could not unlock. In midfield Richard Watkins, Ollie Ford, Lee and Andy Matthews kept up the pressure and Andy's low shot went dangerously close after he pounced on an Mitchell through-ball. Shortly before the break, Swifts' character and persistence paid off when Lee made another unstoppable run down the left before cutting the ball back into the path of Tom Messam, who easily equalised. During the break, the injured Florence was replaced by Ben Dudley. Swifts then changed the shape of the team by putting goal-scorer Messam in at right back thus allowing Ben to move up into the Swifts' attack. Bartestree came at the home side time-after-time but the Swifts' defence held them before intercepting the ball and passing to Lee, who took it down the left before sending a fizzing left-footed shot past the helpless keeper to put Swifts 2-1 ahead. Watkins helped increase Swifts' comfort level when his ever-increasing determination won him the ball, which he passed to Alex Morgan. Beating several opponents in the process, Alex made a determined run down the right before unselfishly passing to Matthews, whose shot put the home side 3-1 up. The fourth goal came when a Ledbury shot came off the bar into the path of Matthews who ruthlessly put it past the stranded keeper to put Swifts 4-1 up with only a few minutes left. Ford, who had displayed great determination by battling for every ball, limped off to be replaced by Ashley Wadley just before the final whistle. 

Sun Mar 20: IMI Mouldings Cup Round 2
Bromyard Town - 2
Ledbury Swifts - 3 (Matthews, Morgan 2)
Swifts could have had a penalty for handball in the first few minutes but it wasn't given. However, Swifts continued to pressurise the Bromyard defence but couldn't find the finishing touch and were lucky when Bromyard broke down the left, only to miss an open goal. 19 minutes into the game, Swifts gained a free-kick on the edge of the box. Alex Morgan hit a good shot but straight at the Bromyard keeper, who made a poor clearance straight to Andy Matthews, who returned the ball to the back of the net for 1-0 to Swifts. On 25 minutes, Richard Watkins played Alex Morgan through, who slotted home to make it 2-0. The midfield trio of Ollie Ford, Ollie Watts and Ben Dudley were working hard and Ben knocked a ball through for Morgan to net his second. Bromyard were playing some neat football and were putting the Swifts' defence of Alisdair Mitchell, Aaron Hall, Tom Green and Tom Messam under pressure but they held out until half-time with Tom Jackson making an outstanding save to keep Bromyard out. Swifts kicked off the second-half, but due to sloppy play gave the ball to Bromyard who broke forward and scored within 30 seconds of the restart. Matthews won the ball in midfield and put the ball through to Watkins on the left wing, who cut inside and put his shot just wide of the right post. With 40 minutes gone, Neely Florence replaced the injured Mitchell. Watts, who had been battling hard in midfield, put a lovely ball through to Morgan who chipped his shot just over the bar. The fresh legs of Ben Adams, Jack Vernall and Harry Aston-Monger were introduced to give the Swifts some fresh impetus however Bromyard kept pushing forward and had the ball in Swifts' net only for the goal to be disallowed. With the clock ticking down, Bromyard broke through to score with virtually the last kick of the match. Final score 3-2 to Swifts.  

Sun Mar 13: League Match 17
Ledbury Swifts - 1 (Matthews)
Hereford City Sports - 0
After scoring a brace apiece in last week's 0-4 away victory against Bartestree in the U12s Supplementary Cup, Swifts' Sandy Morgan and Andy Matthews were keen to add to their goal tally against Hereford City Sports in the season's last league game before the play-offs begin. Matthews came close in the fourth minute and one minute later Morgan's shot was saved after Neely Florence put him through with a well-directed pass. After 20 minutes of non-stop pressure, Hereford had somehow managed to avoid conceding on numerous occasions although it was difficult to understand how Swifts had managed to fail to capitalise on so many opportunities which would normally have resulted in goals. Captain Ally Mitchell won a free-kick which was taken by Dean Lee, who had replaced Richard Watkins a few minutes earlier. Dean's strike from distance struck the bar after leaving the keeper stranded. Swifts went into the break frustrated at the 0-0 scoreline and both they and their supporters were beginning to feel that no matter what they tried, a goal just was not going to come. In the second half, the Ledbury defence came under pressure on a few occasions but Aaron Hall, Tom Green and Mitchell were more than equal to the task of keeping the visitors from putting keeper Tom Jackson's enviable tally of shutouts under too much pressure. Ben Adams replaced Ben Dudley, who had a good game in midfield, while Tom Messam, Ollie Ford and Ollie Watts worked hard to get the breakthrough required to break the deadlock. Green and Hall both made telling tackles under pressure but Swifts were beginning to look increasingly incapable of finding the back of the net. In the last few minutes of the game, the visiting keeper was desperately unlucky when he spilled a save into the path of Matthews who pounced on the ball and allowed the Ledbury supporters to breathe a collective sigh of relief when he scored the only goal of the match. With only eight goals conceded for 91 goals scored, Swifts have dropped only one point this season and, after 11 shutouts, they will go into the playoffs at least two points clear of their closest rivals. If Swifts are to maintain their place at the top of the league through the playoffs, they must go back to playing the passing football which brought them such a convincing victory last weekend.

Sun Mar 06: IMI Holdings Cup Round 1
Bartestree - 0
Ledbury Swifts - 4 (Morgan 2, Matthews 2)
No report available

Sun Jan 23: League Match 16
Ledbury Swifts - 4 (Morgano 4)
Wellington - 0
On any other day, Swifts would have put this game beyond the visitors' reach in the first 15 minutes. However, they only scored once in that time when Andy Matthews sent a pin-point cross onto the head of Alejandro Morgano, who was to score all the goals. Swifts' second came after 20 minutes when Matthews' back post cross set Morgano up for an easy tap-in. Bad luck prevented Swifts from increasing their tally on another two occasions when Matthews put the ball just over the bar and Richard Watkins hit the post. Ally Mitchell intercepted a Wellington ball and sent a made-to-measure pass over the midfield to Morgano, who made no mistake in netting his third of the day. Minutes before half-time, Ben Dudley and the injured Ollie Ford were replaced by Ashley Wadley and Neely Florence, who went on to have an encouraging game in midfield. Ledbury made no half-time changes, although Jack Vernall and Harry Aston-Monger later came on for Tom Green and Watkins. Perhaps Swifts had relaxed or perhaps Wellington had found a new determination to get into the game, but the second half saw Ledbury keeper Clark Gardiner's safe hands preserving the lead on several occasions, including one notable save from a corner. With Neely Florence moved to midfield, Swifts' stalwart defence of Green, Aaron Hall, and Mitchell was joined by Tom Messam, who played his part in keeping their 10th clean sheet of this campaign. Eight minutes from time, Morgano tied things up by beating the Wellington keeper one-on-one.

(Ed's note: Alejandro Morgano appears by kind permission of Alex Morgan and is not some creative loan deal we've signed with Serie A - honest!)

Sun Jan 16: League Match 15
FC Phoenix Milan - 0
Ledbury Swifts - 2 (Morgan, Matthews)
Swifts remain unbeaten at the top of the table after this win over second-placed Phoenix Milan. Their first goal came on 11 minutes; Alex Morgan was unlucky not to score after a move down the right and the ball fell to Andy Matthews who stabbed it home. Dean Lee made several runs down the left but his crosses were cleared by a packed home defence. Morgan was causing the home side all kinds of problems and forced the Phoenix keeper to bravely dive at his feet. The traffic was not all one-way; Aaron Hall was steadfast in defence and Neely Florence and Tom Green made several important clearances, while Ally Mitchell was always on hand to make a telling tackle or to head any threatening high balls clear. Swifts' keeper Clark Gardner bravely came off his line to thwart a Phoenix attacker and the visitors held onto their lead at the break. Six minutes after the restart, Swifts were forced to make a change when Florence was replaced by Ollie Watts. Ollie Ford, Richard Watkins, Dean Lee and Andy Matthews were battling hard in midfield, trying to break up attacks and supply forwards Alex Morgan and Tom Messam. 12 minutes from time, their efforts were rewarded when Ford won the ball and sent a perfect pass over the home defence into the path of Morgan who beat a defender before scoring.

Sun Jan 09: League Match 14
Ledbury Swifts - 8 (Lee, Morgan 5, Matthews, Messam)
Belmont Dragons - 0
Swifts started strongly with Dean Lee's probing runs down the left wing and Ally Mitchell came close when his left foot shot from 20 yards flashed past the visitors' right hand post in the seventh minute. Five minutes later, Andy Matthews cut back to Dean Lee who centred to Sandro Morgan, who made no mistake in opening the scoring for the home side. Ledbury doubled their lead in the 18th minute when the keeper dropped the ball only for Matthews to pounce. Matthews almost scored a second but his shot went just past the post and moments later his cut back found Lee who did not hesitate to make the score 3-0. Ledbury's fourth came when Tom Messam nutmegged the visiting keeper after latching onto a high penetrating Richard Watkins' pass over the visiting defence. Just before half time, Ollie Ford beat two opponents and put the ball through for Morgan who made it 5-0. After the break, an unchanged Swifts side made it 6-0 when Matthews scored following a fine move down the left. With the game now beyond the reach of the visitors, Messam and Watkins were replaced by Ben Adams and Ollie Watts, but Swifts wasted no time in adding to the score when Morgan took delivery of a long through pass from Ford before beating the goalie for his hat-trick and Morgan soon made it 8-0. With two games left before the play-offs, Swifts remain undefeated having dropped only one point this season. Defenders Aaron Hall, Tom Green, Neely Florence and Ally Mitchell still have an enviable record having conceded only eight league goals in 14 matches.

Sun Dec 19: League Match 13
Bartestree - 1 (Donativo)
Ledbury Swifts - 1 (Morgan)
PLAYING well-placed Bartestree away in their 13th league match of the season, Swifts' expectations of a difficult and competitive game proved well-founded. In the 10th minute Bartestree came close when a well-taken throw penetrated the Swifts' defence, putting their attacker in a great position to beat keeper Tom Jackson, only for Ally Mitchell to clear off the line. The clearance fell to the home side but the shot cleared the bar. Bartestree kept up the pressure but Swifts' Tom Green, Neely Florence and Ally Mitchell held firm, with co-defender Aaron Hall doing his usual sterling job mopping up. Tom Green's tackling on the left kept the Bartestree attackers in check. Swifts were by no means idle in attack, with Tom Messam picking out Alex Morgan, who beat two defenders and saw his shot go just wide as he was nudged at the critical moment. Soon afterwards, Dean Lee came close but the keeper made an easy save. At the other end of the pitch, Tom Jackson pulled off a fine save, tipping the ball round his post. Ally Mitchell then dispossessed an opponent and the ball broke to Dean Lee, who took off down the left wing. Meanwhile, Alex Morgan found a gap in the defence and pounced on Dean's pass to put Swifts one ahead with a nicely weighted tap into the bottom left corner. For a moment it looked like Bartestree had equalised but the referee did not allow it as he had blown for offside before the shot was struck. Swifts started the second half with an unchanged line up and immediately went on the offensive, with Alex Morgan coming close with a low shot. Later, Ollie Ford's long-range shot looked certain to go in before rebounding off the crossbar so quickly that striker Alex Morgan did not have the chance to aim his header past the keeper. Shortly after, the hard-working Ollie Watts was replaced by Richard Watkins. Bartestree scored a well- deserved equaliser when Tom Jackson pulled off a fine save by parrying the ball onto the bar, only for the rebound to be slotted away. Ben Dudley replaced Tom Messam as both sides went all out in an attempt to steal a winner but the score remained even at full time. Full credit to both sides for an extremely entertaining match.

Sun Dec 05: League Match 12
Pegasus Juniors - 0
Ledbury Swifts - 9 (Morgan, Messam 3, Lee 3, Matthews, Adams)
Determined to maintain their unbeaten league record, Swifts started the match with Ollie Ford in goal in place of the injured Tom Jackson. Immediate Swifts pressure saw them earn two corners in the first two minutes and then Tom Messam and Andy Matthews combined to put Dean Lee in for the Swifts' first goal. Two minutes later Ben Adams headed in a Lee cross to make it two, and a third came a few minutes later when Matthews netted a low ball. Swifts came close when Alex Morgan's free kick went just over the bar and then Ashley Wadley's shot rebounded off the Pegasus goalkeeper before Lee pounced to slot away the rebound. Swifts soon scored again when Messam headed in a Matthews cross. A save by the Pegasus keeper rebounded out and Messam did not hesitate to score his second. His hat-trick followed a pass from Lee who had been picked out by a long ball from Tom Green. At 0-7 up, Swifts were in control; the eight came from Morgan who calmly slotted the ball past the keeper, and then narrowly missed scoring a second after Ally Mitchell won the ball at halfway and sent a long ball through. At half-time, captain for the day Ollie Ford swapped his keeper's jersey with Messam, and Pegasus' first chance of the day came when he punched away a shot conceding an unconverted corner. With the game firmly under control, Swifts decided to let the defenders play in midfield while the attackers went into defence to appreciate the hard work done back the back four all season. Aaron Hall, Neely Florence and Green all went close to getting their names on the scoresheet. Lee's hat-trick came after he scored Ledbury's ninth with a neat chip. He was in the thick of things again in the dying moments when he raced from one half of the pitch to the other to dispossess a Pegasus attacker and safeguard Ledbury's clean sheet. 

Sun Nov 28: League Match 11
Orleton - 2
Ledbury Swifts - 10 (Morgan 3, Messam 3, Lee 2, Matthews, Aston-Monger)
Swifts, who are top of the league travelled to next-to-bottom Orleton for the 11th match of the season on a bitterly cold Sunday afternoon. Ledbury expected to win, Orleton made it difficult for them, especially in the first half when Swifts scored three goals in the 4th, 13th and 19th minutes with two goals and a well-taken penalty from Eck Morgan. Things improved in the second half when a combination of passes between Nelly Florence, Andy Matthews and Morgan left Tom Messam with little to do but put the ball neatly past the keeper to make it 0-4. Two minutes later Tom got his second after going one-on-one against the Orleton keeper. Ahead by five goals, Sifts were dominating the game and a sixth came from a Messam cross which Dean Lee converted with a glancing header into the Orleton net. Messam added to his tally with another goal in the 7th minute of the second half just before Ashley Wadley and and Ben Adams replaced Ollie Watts and Florence. With 17 minutes to go, Orleton broke and, taking advantage of a lapse in the Swifts defence, they made it 1-7. Swifts soon replied with a goal by Matthews from a Lee corner and Dean was in the think of things soon afterwards when he netted a cross from Morgan after a break down the left wing. With the score 1-9, Richard Watkins and Matthews were replaced by Jack Vernall and Harry Aston-Monger. With virtually his first kick of the ball, Harry celebrated his return from injury by scoring Swifts' tenth of the day. Shortly before the end, Orleton beat keeper Tom Jackson for the second time with a well-struck long range free kick to make the score 2-10. Although the score was heavily in Swifts favour, Orleton are to be congratulated for scoring twice against a stout Swifts defence which has only conceded seven goals so far this season.      

Sun Nov 21: League Match 10
Ledbury Swifts - 4 (Lee, Messam, Matthews, OG)
Leominster Minors - 0
Within the first three minutes, both Aaron Hall and Ollie Watts were called upon to make telling tackles just when Leominster attackers were in ideal positions for shots on goal. Swifts gradually settled and on the 10th minute, Andy Matthews passed out to Dean lee who beat a defender before sending a low left-footed shot past the keeper to put Swifts one up. Leominster continued to apply the pressure to Ledbury's defence of Watts, Hall, Ally Mitchell and captain Tom Green. Whenever it looked like the defence was about to be penetrated, Hall, who had an excellent game, was on hand to mop up. Ford came close in the 13th minute when his shot went narrowly past the right-hand post. A few minutes later, Sandy Morgan's free kick was goal-bound but he was denied by the Leominster keeper's fine save. On 20 minutes, Cameron Laine and Jack Vernall were replaced by Richard Watkins and Tom Messam just seconds before Matthews pick up a pass and turned a defender before bending the ball round the keeper for Swifts' second. Two minutes after the restart, Swifts added to the score when Green's tackle allowed the ball to break to Mitchell, who sent it over the top of the defence to Ford, and then on to Morgan and finally to Messam whose finish was excellent. Swifts continued to play good football and their fourth came from an own goal when Messam's diving header was deflected in by a defender. At the final whistle Swifts celebrated their 10th successive league victory.

Sun Nov 14: League Match 9
Hereford Lads Club Colts - 0
Ledbury Swifts - 3 (Watts, Morgan, Ford)
Four minutes into the game, Swifts' Ally Mitchell put Sandy Morgan through on goal with a long pass, but his shot failed to beat the keeper. Three minutes from half-time, Morgan made no mistake when he collected a pass and beat a Colts defender before netting Swifts' first of the day. Aaron Hall and fellow defenders Neely Florence, Tom Green and Ally Mitchell went into the break having protected keeper Tom Jackson on the few occasions the home side threatened. During the first half, Ledbury had struggled to thread passes together and things were not much different in the second period. Colts looked like equalising but the visitors managed to hold out. Swifts players and supporters were able to relax after Ollie Ford put them two up with a fine shot from the edge of the area. The goal seemed to help the midfielders of Ollie Watts, Ford Richard Watkins and Andy Matthews settle as they occasionally showed glimpses of the good play of which they are capable. Watts put the match beyond reach with a beautifully executed shot over the keeper's head.

Sun Nov 07: League Match 8
Ledbury Swifts - 5 (Matthews, Ford 2 (1 pen), Morgan 2)
Weston-under-Penyard - 1
Swifts started their eighth league match of the season well with an Andy Matthews shot just going wide in the third minute, but their initial dominance soon evaporated when Weston exploited a defensive error in the sixth minute to go one ahead. For the first time in the league this season, Ledbury found themselves a goal behind and Matthews was unlucky with another attempt on goal when he tried to even the scores after beating several opponents. Andy's next attempt was more successful when his low shot beat the visiting keeper. A 29th minute Ollie Ford penalty saw Swifts go into the break 2-1 up. The second half started with the introduction of Dean Lee, Alex Morgan and Ollie Watts who replaced Ben Adams, Ashley Wadley and Jack Vernall. Within a minute of the start, Tom Green took possession and sent an incisive pass through to the feet of Morgan who easily made it 3-1 to the home side. Swifts' next goal came from a one-two move between Ford and Morgan, and the visiting keeper was unlucky not to keep the ball out of the net after parrying Alex's shot. Tom Messam came on for Richard Watkins and a few minutes later, Ford beat four Weston defenders before scoring with a low shot to seal the game at 5-1 for Swifts. Despite conceding a goal, Ledbury keeper Tom Jackson and his defence of Neely Florence, Ally Mitchell, Arron Hall and Tom Green still have an enviable league record with only five goals conceded in eight games. With 49 goals scored, the team remains unbeaten at the top of the league.. 

Sun Oct 31: League Match 7
Golden Valley Juniors - 0
Ledbury Swifts - 8 (Wadley, Ford, Adams, Watkins 2, Morgan 3)
Swifts' first goal came after a third minute Dean Lee cut-back to Ashley Wadley who crashed the ball into the top of the net leaving the home goalkeeper no chance. Golden Valley almost equalised immediately but failed to capitalise on a defensive error and put the ball wide. Wadley narrowly missed at the other end and Ollie Watts' shot was saved after he had beaten three defenders. Lee's pass set up Ford whose right-footed shot flew past the keeper for Swifts' second on 14 minutes. Four minutes later Wadley almost got another but the keeper managed to parry his shot only for Ben Adams to pounce on the rebound and make it three just before being replaced by Alex Morgan due to an injury. With Jack Vernall starting in place of Wadley, the second half had just started when Ledbury entered a phase of good, simple football which saw them score three times in less than five minutes. Ford intercepted and passed through to Morgan who beat several opponents before his pass reached Richard Watkins who screamed in from the right and rifled past the keeper to make it four. Another Ledbury build-up saw Morgan taking the ball down the right, then coming back through the defence to make it five by putting the ball over the keeper's head. Lee's cross in front of goal put Watkins in a great position to score his second and Swifts' sixth. Five minutes from time, Aaron Hall intercepted and, spotting an opportunity, moved through the midfield into unmarked territory before picking Morgan out with a pinpoint pass. Alex made no mistake and made it seven with a high shot over the keeper. Moments later Lee, Ford and Morgan's combination led to Alex scoring his third and Swifts' eighth of the day. Despite the score-line, things did not all go Swifts' way and their fourth league clean sheet was preserved by a little luck and much good work by Tim Jackson, who always managed to stay alert despite long periods of inactivity. Swifts' defence of Tom Green, Hall, Ally Mitchell and Neely Florence are improving their co-operation and, having conceded only four league goals in seven games, their confidence if justifiably high.

Sun Oct 24: League Match 6
Ledbury Swifts - 6 (Lee, Matthews 3, Watkins, Messam)
Ross Town Juniors - 0
Each with five wins out of five under their belts, both teams kicked off knowing that the winner would go two points clear at the top of the league. Within seconds, Swifts showed their determination to avenge last year's narrow defeat by launching their first attack. Their pressure was rewarded on three minutes, when Dean Lee's incisive run produced Ledbury's first of the day when he cut back to Tom Messam who scored. Barely 10 minutes later, Richard Watkins made it 2-0 with an unstoppable shot into the top of the net after new boy Andy Matthews had put him through. Swifts kept up the pressure with Lee scoring despite a defender's attempt to block his shot. Swifts still did not relax and defenders Neely Florence, Ally Mitchell, Aaron Hall and Tom Green kept the visitors at bay to such an extent that keeper Tom Jackson only got his first touch of the ball after 23 minutes when he intercepted a cross from the left. Despite challenges by two defenders, a determined Messam kept possession and got into a shooting position only to see his effort go just wide. Ally Mitchell was also unlucky when he ran onto a Lee corner kick and sent a bullet of a header crashing through a packed area just inches from the post. Swifts' next two headers both produced Matthews goals from Lee crosses. In the second half, Ross saw a little bit more of the action, but Jackson kept them out with a series of saves including one from a high shot which he somehow plucked out of the air. Unflinching in their tackling, Ollie Watts and Ollie Ford really made a difference through their refusal to give in - always chasing hard to regain possession. Ford came close 10 minutes from the end when his shot hit the bar. In the last minutes Matthews intercepted a Ross pass, went forward, and bent the ball round the keeper to score a hat-trick on his Swifts' debut. 

Sun Oct 17: League Match 5
Monmouth Lads Club - 0
Ledbury Swifts - 4 (Messam, Morgan 2, Vernall)
Having earned four corners within five minutes of the kick-off in their first encounter with MLC, it looked like being an easy day for the visitors as the pressure was all on the home side. MLC had other ideas and, breaking from the left connected with one of their forwards whose header went narrowly past the right hand post. Swifts reacted on 10 minutes with an Alex Morgan goal scored with a half-volley. Swifts settled down and in a short period of time, Morgan collected the ball outside the area and beat two opponents, only to see his shot turned wide for Ledbury's eighth corner, which was cleared from a packed goalmouth. Swifts' keeper Tom Jackson and defenders Aaron Hall, Tom Green, Ally Mitchell and Neely Florence went into half-time with a clean sheet. Within seconds of play restarting, Morgan put midfielder Tom Messam through with a neat lob over the advancing defence and Tom put the ball away neatly for Ledbury's second. Their third came after Morgan battled his way through a packed defence following a pass from Richard Watkins and fired a low ball across the goalfinding fellow attacker Jack Vernall who tapped the ball home. A few minutes later, Vernall nearly scored a second, but his shot just went over the bar. Unphased by several narrow misses, the ever-dangerous Morgan just kept trying and was rewarded five minutes from time when he put the Swifts four up. In the dying moment, Harry Aston-Monger, who had replaced Vernall, spotted a gap in the home defence and headed through to Morgan who narrowly missed his hat-trick. 

Sun Oct 10: Wyvern Flooring Cup Round 1
Ledbury Swifts - 1 (Lee)
Hereford Lads Club - 1 (Tolley)
After Extra Time - Hereford Lads Club win 2-1 on penalties 
Swifts defeated Lads Club 7-2 on the opening day of the season, but knew in this cup match that the visitors would be out to restore some pride. For the first 10 minutes it was virtually one-way traffic with Swifts coming close through Tom Messam and Ollie Ford. Gradually Lads Club got into the game and both sides had to work hard to keep play flowing due to the strong gusts of wind. Swifts' Alex Morgan had a shot well saved and home goalkeeper Tom Jackson also made a good diving save towards the end of a frantic first half. Within a minute of the re-start, the visitors finally managed to split the home defence and went one up. Swifts reacted splendidly and Dean Lee equalised within 30 seconds. The score remained unchanged, even at the end of extra time, meaning the match had to be decided by a penalty shoot-out. Despite two fine saved by Tom Jackson, the home side were unable to add to Alex Morgan's well struck spot-kick and, narrowly beaten 2-1, all they could do was swallow their disappointment and congratulate Lads Club on their victory.

Sun Oct 03: League Match 4
Westfields - 1 (Stephens)
Ledbury Swifts - 7 (Morgan 3, Lee, Vernall, Ford, OG)
Swifts travelled to Hereford intending to replace Westfields as league leaders with a fourth successive win of the season but with both sides still undefeated, it promised to be a hard- fought match. After five minutes, an Ollie Ford, Dean Lee and Jack Vernall combination almost paid off, and Alex Morgan came close twice, forcing the home keeper to make his first save of the match. Dean Lee then made an incisive left wing run and, after outpacing the home defenders, cleverly cut back to Vernall, whose well-struck first of the season put Swifts one up. Five minutes later, Ally Mitchell dispossessed a Westfields attacker and, beating another opponent, put Morgan Alex's shot came off the keeper but he showed no hesitation in netting the rebound for Ledbury's second. Their third followed when Richard Watkins' curving ball cut through the home defence to Morgan, who put the visitors three up just before half-time. During the break, Vernall was rested and Ollie Watts' Swifts debut was only two minutes old when, despite a valiant attempt by a home defender to clear the ball off the line, Morgan scored his fourth hat-trick in as many matches. Swifts' back four of Neely Florence, Ally Mitchell, Aaron Hall and Tom Green were doing a sound job of keeping Westfields out while Ford, Watkins, Lee and Tom Meesam battled for every ball in midfield. Lee went forward, forcing an error which resulted in Ledbury's fifth courtesy of an own goal. Lee finally got onto the score sheet with a great individual goal just a few seconds later. At six goals ahead, Messam was replaced by Ashley Wadley just as Green mopped up a Westfields attack with a well-judged tackle. Ben Gwyther then came on to give Watkins a well-deserved rest with Harry Aston-Monger and Ben Adams replacing Green and Florence. In the dying minutes, Ledbury continued to press and their second successive corner saw the ball fall to Ford who struck for Ledbury's seventh. Westfields saw their perseverance rewarded when Josh Stephens took advantage of a defensive slip-up to score a consolation goal past Tom Jackson, whose only other call to duty had been when he pulled off a great first-half save. 

Sun Sep 26: League Match 3
Ledbury Swifts - 5 (Lee, Morgan 3, Messam)
Cusop Dynamo - 1 (Pavey)
Swifts kicked off their third match of the season hoping to maintain their unbeaten run against Cusop Juniors at home. For the first five minutes Cusop were doing all the pressing, with Swifts struggling to get out of their own half until Dean Lee's left wing run won a free-kick, which he put narrowly past the goal. Ledbury were gradually getting more and more into the game and after breaking down a Cusop attack, Richard Walkins spotted the waiting Alex Morgan and placed a perfect pass at his feet from the right. Bearing down on the keeper, Alex kept his head and withstood a strong challenge from a Cusop defender before scoring his first and best of the day with a high looping shot. Three minutes later Swifts were denied by the Cusop keeper, who turned the ball wide for a Ledbury corner which fell to the visitors who pushed forward, but their attack was broken up by some fine tackling by Aaron Hall. Cusop were determined to get back into the game but were frustrated by Neely Florence who cleared off his line, and by Ally Mitchell, who twice managed to block shots on target. Ledbury made it two on 20 minutes after Tom Messam's perseverance against determined opposition in midfield was rewarded when his pass found Alex Morgan, who pounced on the chance to score his second. Tom was soon in the thick of things again when his run at goal was thwarted by a foul resulting in a penalty. Dean Lee stepped up to the spot and drove straight at the keeper who got a hand to the ball, but it had been struck with such power that he was unable to stop it from going in for Ledbury's third. Shortly afterwards, Jack Vernall came close from a corner. Cusop's counter was mopped up by the Swifts defence of Neely Florence, Ally Mitchell, Aaron Hall and Tom Green and then Tom Messam came up from midfield, beating several defenders, and somehow managed to slot the ball between the Cusop keeper and the post from an incredibly tight angle. The Cusop keeper went off with a hand injury and Swifts lost no time in putting his replacement under pressure when Alex Morgan was brought down just outside the box and Dean Lee's free-kick caused some concern before the visitors managed to clear. A short while later an Ally Mitchell long-range effort went over the visitors' crossbar and Ollie Ford put Alex Morgan through with a well taken throw-in, only to see his team-mate's shot go just wide. Swifts' pressure was rewarded for the fifth time with Alex Morgan's extremely well struck free-kick before Cusop got their only goal of the day when Scott Tovey eluded the Ledbury defence to score with a fine header from a corner. With around 10 minutes left to play, Richard Watkins and Jack Vemall came off for a well-eamed rest and were replaced by Ashley Wadley and Harry Aston-Monger. Harry's first touch of the ball very nearly resulted in a goal when his header from Dean Lee's corner went narrowly past the post.

Sun Sep 19: League Match 2
Bromyard Town - 0
Ledbury Swifts - 7 (Morgan 4, Ford 2, Lee)
Right from the off, Ledbury made their intentions clear with the first of many attacks narrowly missing. After seven minutes, Dean Lee hit the cross bar, Alex Morgan pounced on the rebound and Swifts were one up. Alex was soon on the receiving end of an Ollie Ford pass and somehow managed to pick his way through a knot of Bromyard defenders who had descended on him to make it 0-2 with a low shot. The day was Dean Lee's birthday and he was determined to celebrate by scoring a goal and he came close when the Bromyard 'keeper saved his long range free kick. In the 15th minute Dean again shot just wide, then Alex Morgan and Jack Vernall were both unlucky with narrowly missed attempts on goal. Ollie Ford combined with Dean Lee on the left and their move was rewarded when Ollie netted Dean's return pass. Just a few minutes later Ollie scored Ledbury's fourth with a superb dropping shot over the Bromyard defence. As the first half was drawing to an end, Ledbury were comfortably in control of the game although Bromyard did manage to give the Swifts' defence and midfield a couple of scares. In the third minute of the second half Bromyard Town came close, putting the ball narrowly past the left post. This was followed by another attack which was mopped up by Ledbury defender Aaron Hall while Tom Green made several telling tackles. Ben Adams replaced Jack Vemall and soon made his worth felt. Ledbury soon hit back with another goal from Alex Morgan who made it five with a 3D-yard volley. Shortly afterwards, Alex latched on to a 42nd minute Ally Mitchell long clearance and put away his fourth and Swifts' sixth of the day before being replaced by Harry Aston-Monger. After a first half with relatively little to do, Neely Florence went off as did Richard Watkins whose performance in midfield had been solid. Helped by the fresh legs of Ben Gwyther and Ashley Wadley, Ledbury's renewed pressure went unrewarded until the dying seconds when Dean Lee got his birthday wish in some style leaving the home 'keeper stranded with a perfect free kick from outside the area. Swifts' 0-7 victory was well deserved although Bromyard are to be commended for never giving up.

Sun Sep 12: League Match 1
Ledbury Swifts - 7 (Morgan 4, Messam 2, Ford)
Hereford Lads Club - 2
The first match of the season promised to be exciting as Swifts, last year's league runners-up and cup winners, took on the reigning league champions, Lads' Club. With several of their regular players unavailable, Lad's Club worked hard to hold out against immediate pres sure from the home side with. Dean Lee torturing them on the left wing. With less than five minutes gone, Dean's shot rebounded off the opposing keeper into the path of Alex Morgan who made no mistake and put his side 1-0 up. Four minutes later, Alex headed just wide from a corner earned and taken by Dean Lee and Swifts were looking quite comfortable until Lads' Club broke forward, only to be foiled by Tom Jackson, who bravely dived at the attacker's feet. Swifts’ pressure forced a goal-kick which fell to Alex Morgan, who coolly lofted the ball past the keeper to get his name on the score sheet for the second time. Lads' Club pressed forward earning a corner from which Michael Aspro scored with a fine header in the 12th minute to bring the score to 2-1. Seconds later Tom Jackson was again called upon to dive at an attacker's feet to keep Lads' Club out. Swifts quickly countered with good work by Alex Morgan on the right wing ending with a cross to Tom Messam, whose header found the net to make it 3-1. In midfield, Dean Lee, Richard Watkins, Ollie Ford and Tom Messam were making life difficult for the visitors and anything that got through them was quickly mopped up by the defence, with Tom Green making a particularly fine clearance just before Ally Mitchell's header fell to Tom Messam, who scored his second and Swifts' fourth of the day with a low drive. Swifts were under pressure from Lads' Club at the start of the second half but Neely Florence and his fellow defenders, Tom Green, Ally Mitchell and Aaron Hall, regained control and Ollie Ford made it 5-1 from the edge of the area after connecting with a Messam cross. Within a few minutes, Swifts made it six with Alex Morgan scoring his third following some neat one-two play with Ollie Ford. Swifts' seventh came from Alex Morgan who pounced on a loose ball and calmly stroked it past the keeper. At this stage Jack Vernall and Ollie Ford were replaced by Ben Adams and Ashley Wadley and then Harry Aston-Monger and Ben Gwyther took over from Alex Morgan and Dean Lee. It looked like Swifts' back four were not going to concede again but despite some fine defending by Aaron Hall and Neely Florence, Lads' Club earned a free kick. Tom Jackson's superb stop spilled from his grasp and Lads' Club's Luke Wareham stepped up in the last seconds to make it 7-2.