LEDBURY Town were victorious on opening day, but were pushed all the way in a thrilling seven-goal thriller with Clee Hill United at New Street.

Town had raced into a 4-0 lead just after half-time but complacency set in and Clee Hill scored three goals in the final 15 minutes to set-up a nervous finish. 

Two headed goals from James Febery and a superb half-volley from striker Tom Boyle put Ledbury 3-0 up at the break before Lewis Williams added a fourth shortly after the restart.

But Clee gave themselves hope when Sean Milward poked past Alex Goode in the Ledbury goal and they were sensing an incredible comeback after a quick-fire double from Euan Morgan.

Ledbury held on, however, to ensure they kick-started the new season with all three points.

The crowd of 110 watched a nervy opening 20 minutes, and Town’s start was hampered when Dwayne Tyndale and captain Joel Skyers both leaft the field with injuries.

But despite the setbacks, the deadlock was broken in the 22nd minute as Febery rose highest to meet Tom Boyle’s corner with a powerful header to give the home side the lead.

Two goals before the break from Ledbury looked as if it had settled the result. First, Febery headed home after Cosmin Micula's pin-point cross and then Boyle latched on to a long punt downfield from keeper Goode to smash home on the half-volley. 

When Lewis Williams struck low past the keeper to make it 4-0 three minutes into the second period, the game looked all done and dusted. 

But with 15 minutes to play, a ball in behind the Ledbury defence found striker Milward and he poked past Goode to pull one back.

Goode had to make further stops to keep them from finding the back of the net again, but he was beaten in the 84th minute when a ball into the box was bundled home by Morgan.

The same player grabbed a second moments later to set-up a nervy ending for Ledbury but they did enough to resist Clee's surge and get the win.