LEDBURY Town stay ninth in the Herefordshire Football League Premier Division after a 5-4 defeat to Lads Club Reserves.

It was the first time Phil Preedy’s senior squad had been in action since the 3-1 victory away at Hinton on August 25 after three postponed fixtures.

And with the club’s historic New Street ground still unavailable as a deal between the club’s committee and landowners Property Solutions Ltd remains to be sealed, Lads Club offered the use of Widemarsh Common in order for Preedy’s team to fulfil this home fixture.

The eventful encounter started badly for the home side when a second-minute strike from Turner was saved by 18-year-old Ledbury ‘keeper James Loader, before Clive Symonds fired home the rebound.

Ledbury’s persistence was rewarded in the 14th minute when Gavin Hodgkins fired in the equaliser after Dan Herbert’s assist.

Town found themselves in the driving seat after 16 minutes when Herbert nodded home his side’s second goal of the afternoon.

Lads Club quickly restored the status quo through a header from Rhys Davies.

The state of play changed again in the 25th minute when a terrific cross from Herbert on the far wing allowed Pat Morgan to slot the ball past the ‘keeper to restore Ledbury’s lead. Turner was able to race all the way through the Town defence to again put the two sides on level pegging.

Herbert’s cross-shot was finished by the former young Colts marksman Morgan to put Ledbury ahead once again in with a chance of acquiring a badly-needed three points from the encounter.

Jordan Burke drew Lads Club level once again before they seized the win in the dying moments as substitute George Worswick scored from a tight angle.

Preedy’s men have six points from five matches in this season’s league campaign.

They will be hoping to secure a third league victory when they face basement boys Westfields on Saturday in an away fixture at Allpay Park (3pm).

Meanwhile, Ledbury Town Reserves remain in mid-table in Division Two after a goalless draw away at Kingstone.