Rugby - Rampant Town fire nine (From Ledbury Reporter)
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Rugby - Rampant Town fire nine
3:20pm Friday 26th October 2012 in Sport
NINE-GOAL ROUT: Neil Gardiner on the ball for Ledbury Town in their thrashing of Wolverhampton Sporting Community Reserves in the West Midlands League Division Two. Picture: CHRIS PONTER
LEDBURY Town signalled their West Midlands Football League Division Two title intentions with a 9-0 hammering of Wolverhampton Sporting Community Reserves.
Their relentless and clinical attacking play, with the winning formula of five-goal Dan Herbert, hat-trick hero Jamie Welch and Neil Gardiner in rampant mood, left the visiting defence in tatters.
But for numerous controversial offside rulings, Ledbury’s final tally could easily have hit double figures at New Street.
Despite having to play uphill during the first-half, the hosts wasted little time in going straight on the attack.
After just five minutes, Ledbury opened the scoring courtesy of Herbert from Martin Loveridge’s free-kick.
Welch and Herbert were denied by the assistant referee’s flag before the latter scored his second on 17 minutes following a strong run and pass by Gardiner.
A five-minute period of Wolverhampton pressure only resulted in a goal-scoring frenzy at the other end.
Welch’s fine cross enabled Herbert to head the ball onto Gardiner and he wasted no time in putting away Town’s third goal.
Two minutes later, a fine Ian Merrick run and Welch’s pass gave Herbert the chance to complete a quick hat-trick.
Ledbury made it 5-0 by halftime when Welch took the ball past a bewildered Wolverhampton defence.
Keeper Adam McTear kept the visitors off the scoresheet with a superb save from Wayne Roberts’ free-kick.
But Ledbury countered when Tom Boyle’s cross to Welch provided the prolific striker with his second goal of the contest.
Herbert clipped the post from 20 yards out before he netted his fourth following good work by Welch and Gardiner.
Wolverhampton goalkeeper Daniel Fletcher denied Welch, who eventually sealed his treble and Ledbury’s eighth goal.
The scoring was completed as Welch crossed for Herbert to confidently head in his fifth, leaving Town to celebrate a convincing win in front of an overjoyed home crowd.
Second-placed Ledbury, just one point behind leaders Gornal Athletic Reserves with a superior goal difference, host Penkridge Town tomorrow (3pm).
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