Under 9s Reports - 2005-06

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Sat May 20: Hillman Florist Cup - FINAL at Edgar Street
Ledbury Swifts - 2 (Miller, Davies)
Pegasus Juniors - 2
(after extra time - Ledbury Swifts win 4-3 on penalties)

Swifts triumphed in a penalty shoot out to lift the Hillman's Florist Cup at Edgar Street. Ben Miller fired home a free-kick from the edge of the box and netted again, when set up by Philip Davies, to give Swifts a 2-0 half-time lead.

Pegasus Juniors were more determined in the second-half. They struck an early goal and then equalised late in injury time. Goal-keeping hero James Loader then pulled off two magnificent saves, which left Ledbury Swifts winning 4-3 on penalties.


Wed May 03: League Match 22
Wellington - 0
Ledbury Swifts - 1
No match report available.

Sat Apr 08: League Match 21
Ledbury Swifts - 2
FC Phoenix - 1
No match report available.

Sat Apr 01: League Match 20
Ledbury Swifts - 0
Leominster Minors - 3
Swifts entertained Leominster in a top-of-the-table clash in which the scoreline was not a true reflection on the game. Leominster took the lead after 12 minutes with a fine curling right-foot shot from six yards out. Swifts came battling back and the Minors' keeper made two good saves from Ben Miller and Tom Skittery. The second-half started pretty even but Leominster scored two quick goals, one from a corner and one from a good shot from the edge of the area. Swifts kept battling and Ben Miller had a fine shot cleared off the line by a Minors' defender.

Sat Mar 25: League Match 19
Ross Juniors - 1
Ledbury Swifts - 2 (Skittery, Miller)
Swifts got back to winning ways in a very even game, with both sides passing and moving the ball around nicely. Swifts took the lead in the eighth minute when a cross from Ben Miller found Tom Skittery, who swept the ball into the net from a narrow angle. Ross Juniors came back at Swifts and only some excellent saves from James Loader and determined defending by Scott Brown, Miles Caffull and Ryan Jones kept Ross out. At the other end, Swifts were awarded a free-kick just outside the area in the 15th minute, which Ben Miller hammered into the net to make it 2-0. Ross made it 2-1 with a direct corner mid-way through the second-half. It was then end-to-end, with Harrison Oakshott-Francis and William MacCormack making some timely tackles as Swifts held on for a deserved victory after six minutes of added time.

Sat Mar 18: League Match 18
Ledbury Swifts - 0
Ross Dynamos - 0
No match report available.

Sat Mar 11: League Match 17
Ledbury Swifts - 1
Bartestree - 2
No match report available.

Sat Feb 25: League Match 16
Pegasus Juniors - 2
Ledbury Swifts - 0
Swifts' fine unbeaten run came to an end at Pegasus on Saturday in a hard, physical game. Pegasus came at Ledbury from the start and took the lead after ten minutes when Swifts failed to clear their lines. The Swifts' goal led a charmed life in the first-half as Pegasus hit the bar twice and several fine saves by Swifts' keeper James Loader kept them in the game at half-time. Pegasus scored a superb second goal when their player looked up and saw the keeper off his line and scored with an accurate lob from 12 yards. To their credit, Swifts battled back and hit the bar twice with strikes from Ben Miller, and Tom Parks also had a shot saved by the Pegasus goalkeeper. Pegasus had other chances to score but Swifts' man-of-the-match Loader kept the scoreline to 2-0.

Sat Feb 18: League Match 15
Ross Dynamos - 0
Ledbury Swifts - 1 (Miller)
Swifts continued their fine form with a workmanlike performance against local rivals Ross Dynamos on Saturday. Swifts took the lead after ten minutes when a fine through ball by Ryan Jones picked out Ben Miller who scored with a fine left-foot strike. Dynamos came back at Swifts and were unlucky when they hit the post from close range. The second-half was an even contest and the woodwork came to Swifts' rescue again when Dynamos hit the bar, but Swifts also had their chances with Ben Miller and Tom Parks forcing saves from the Dynamo's keeper. Dynamos kept pressing but the ever reliably duo at the back, Ryan Jones and Ryan Gobey, ably supported by keeper James Loader kept Dynamos at bay. This win moves the Swifts into second place in the league.

Sat Feb 04: Hillmans Florists Cup - Semi-Final
Leominster Minors - 0
Ledbury Swifts - 2 (Miller 2)
Swifts U9s travelled to Leominster on Saturday as underdogs in the Hillman Florist Cup semi-final and came out on top with the best team performance of the season to reach the final. The game was pretty even to start and Leominster thought they had taken the lead after ten minutes when they netted, but the referee disallowed the goal for a foul on Ryan Gobey. Swifts took the lead after 15 minutes, Ryan Jones played a super ball through to Ben Miller who turned and took three defenders out of the game and scored past the advancing Leominster keeper. Leominster put the Swifts under pressure from the start of the second-half and brilliant saves by Ledbury keeper James Loader and super defending by the Swifts' trio of Ryan Jones, Ryan Gobey and Scott Brown ably supported by the midfield trio of Phillip Davis, Tom Skittery and Harrison Oakshott Francis. Swifts extended their lead with five minutes to go when a clearance by Ryan Gobey put Ben Miller clean through and he put the ball through the Leominster keeper's legs. Swifts play the final on Hereford United's ground on May 6 against either Bromyard Town or Pegasus Juniors.

Sat Jan 28: League Match 14
Ledbury Swifts - 1 (Skittery)
Ross Juniors - 0
This hard-fought local derby was a fine advert for mini-soccer. Chances were few and far between in the first-half, with the best of them falling to Ben Miller and Tom Skittery but Ross defended well. Swifts took the lead after 30 minutes when Phillip Davis delivered a lovely through-ball to Miller, who drew the keeper off his line for Skittery to score from close range. Ross then threw everything at the Swifts, who defended like Trojans, with keeper James Loader and defenders Ryan Jones and Scott Brown working overtime. Swifts held on and moved up to second in the league.

Sat Jan 21: League Match 13
Ledbury Swifts - 6 (Miller 4, OG, Skittery)
Hereford Lads Club - 1
Swifts gained their first win in 2006 with a comfortable victory against lowly placed Lads Club. Swifts took the lead after five minutes with a fine individual goal by Ben Miller, he then doubled his and Swifts' tally by scoring with a cross cum shot. Swifts then took their foot off the pedal and allowed Lads Club to get back into the game and pull a goal back. Swifts went in at half-time 3-1 to the good when a Ben Miller corner was put into the net by a Lads Club defender. The second-half was all Swifts with Ledbury's man-of-the-match Ryan Jones and Miles Caffull having a fine game at the back. Swifts made it four when a fine three-man move involving Ryan Gobey, Harrison Oakshott Francis and Ben Miller saw the latter complete his hat-trick. Miller then score his fourth and Ledbury's fifth after good inter-play with Tom Skittery. Ledbury's best goal was their sixth when Tom Skittery hit a blistering right-foot shot that broke the back of the net.

Sat Jan 14: League Match 12
FC Phoenix - 2
Ledbury Swifts - 2 (Miller 2 (1 pen))
Swifts played their first game of 2006 and came away with a creditable draw against a strong FC Phoenix side. Ledbury started the match the brighter and took the lead after five minutes when Ben Miller was brought down in the penalty box. He picked himself up to score from the penalty spot. Phoenix equalised just before half-time from a corner after Swifts failed to clear their lines. Phoenix started the second-half the stronger and took the lead after 25 minutes when the unfortunate Scott Brown put through his own net. Phoenix then had several clear cut chances to win the game but wasted them. Swifts came back into the game and equalised when a superb through ball from Phillip Davis sent Ben Miller clean through to equalise. Swifts nearly took all three points late on when Tom Skittery had a shot well saved by the Phoenix keeper.

Sat Dec 17: League Match 11
Ledbury Swifts - 5 (Skittery, Miller 3, Park)
Bromyard Town - 0
Swifts finished 2005 in style with a comfortable victory against Bromyard. Ledbury were in control from the start and took the lead after eight minutes when a lovely through-ball by Ben Miller saw Tom Skittery score with a superb right foot shot. Swifts then added a second when the same pairing combined for Ben Miller to score from close range. Swifts continued to dominate and scored two more goals before the break, Ben Miller scoring his second and a Tom Park tap-in at the far-post. Bromyard made more of a fight of the game in the second-half but could not get past Ryan Jones and James Loader in the Swifts' goal. Swifts added a fifth goal when man-of-the-match Ben Miller completed his hat-trick with a fine solo goal.

Sat Dec 10: League Match 10
Bartestree - 0
Ledbury Swifts - 0
Swifts played out their first draw of the season with both defences on top of their game. Ledbury started the match brighter and Ben Miller and Tom Skittery had chances but sound defending by Bartestree kept them out. Bartestree had chances themselves but two fine saves by Swifts' keeper James Loader meant the teams went in scoreless at half-time. Bartestree pressured the Swifts in the second-half but sound defending by Ledbury's man-of-the-match Ryan Gobey and Ryan Jones aided by Phillip Davis and Harrison Oakshott Francis and two more good saves by James Loader kept the score goalless. Swifts nearly pinched the game right at the end when a good shot by Phillip Davis was well saved by the Bartestree keeper.

Sat Dec 03: Hillmans Florist Cup - Round 2
Ledbury Swifts - 4 (Miller 3, Oakshott-Francis)
FC Phoenix - 1
Swifts went through to the semi-finals of the Hillman's Florist Cup in a game that was a superb advertisement for mini-soccer. Swifts had an enforced break for two weeks due to bad weather but early on it did not show and they took the lead after ten minutes when a superb through ball by Tom Skittery put Ben Miller through to score from close range. FC Phoenix equalised just before half-time when Swifts failed to clear their lines and keeper James Loader was beaten at his near post. FC Phoenix started the brighter in the second-half and only three superb saves by Swifts' keeper and man-of-the-match James Loader kept Swifts in the game. The Swifts retook the lead after 28 minutes when Ben Miller scored from close range, Swifts then went 3-1 ahead when a fine three-man move between Tom Skittery, Ben Miller and Harrison Oakshott Francis saw the latter score a superb goal with a fine right foot shot. FC Phoenix kept battling but the ever reliable defensive duo of Ryan Jones and Ryan Gobey kept them at bay and the midfield trio of Harrison Oakshott Francis, Phillip Davis and Scott Brown also helped out. Right at the end Swifts scored a fourth goal when Ben Miller raced clear to complete his hat-trick with a rare right foot shot.

Sat Nov 12: League Match 9
Ledbury Swifts - 4 (Miller 3, Skittery)
Westfields - 1
Swifts continued their winning ways with a hard- fought victory against a spirited Westfields side in sticky conditions. The game was pretty even until the tenth minute when a poor goal-kick by the Westfields' keeper fell to Ben Miller who coolly slotted home. He scored his and Swifts' second five minutes later after a fine through ball from Tom Skittery. Westfields came out attacking from the start of the second-half and they pulled a goal back as Swifts failed to clear their lines. This woke the Swifts up and spurred them on with the hardworking Philip Davis and Harrison Oakshot-Francis in midfield and the superb attacking combination of Miller and Skittery and when Swifts added a third when a corner from Miller was swept home by Skittery. Back came Westfields but they could find no way past the strong defensive pair of Ryan Jones and Ryan Gobey. Swifts added a fourth late on with fine link up play between Skittery and Miller, which saw Ben complete his hat-trick with a fine low left footed shot.

Sat Nov 05: League Match 8
Ledbury Swifts - 4
Wellington - 2
No match report available

Sat Oct 29: League Match 7
Pencombe - 0
Ledbury Swifts - 1
No match report available

Sat Oct 22: League Match 6
Ledbury Swifts - 1
Pegasus Juniors - 4
No match report available

Sat Oct 15: League Match 5
Leominster Minors - 6
Ledbury Swifts - 0
No match report available

Sat Oct 08: Hillman Florist Cup - Round 1
Ledbury Swifts - 4
Wellington - 0
No match report available

Sat Oct 01: League Match 4
Ledbury Swifts - 4
Westfields Colts - 0
No match report available

Sat Sep 24: League Match 3
Ross Juniors Gunners - 0
Ledbury Swifts - 14
No match report available

Sat Sep 17: League Match 2
Ledbury Swifts Rangers - 0
Ledbury Swifts - 4
No match report available

Sat Sep 10: League Match 1
Ledbury Swifts - 6
Ross Dynamos Colts - 0
No match report available