YOUTH and experience joined forces to help Ledbury Colts demolish Malvern Vale 12-0 in Herefordshire Football League Division Three.

They retained second place in the table with the biggest home victory at the New Street ground in recent memory.

Richard Thick’s young squad were bolstered by striker Jamie Welch and midfielder Scott Roberts as well as Dan Herbert and Martin Loveridge.

Ledbury Town Reserves’ Division One game at Hinton Reserves was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

Jamie Gladwin’s third minute effort deflected off the keeper’s hands onto the bar before Herbert’s shot was palmed over.

But a first goal from Welch after lowly Vale held out for the first 20 minutes opened the floodgates.

He fired in a fine cross from young forward Patrick Morgan, who scored a second soon after from a rebound.

Herbert blasted in a follow-up effort and then netted again to sandwich a second effort from Welch to leave Ledbury 5-0 up at half-time.

A diving header from Gladwin was disallowed two minutes into the second period for offside.

But Welch completed his hat-trick in the 50th minute and then struck a quick fourth goal as Malvern’s defence fell apart.

Substitute Gavin Walton replaced Morgan on the hour and announced his return in style barely a minute later.

His strike deflected off the keeper’s hands into the back of the net.

Vale put the ball just over in one of their few chances.

But Herbert’s 71st-minute thunderbolt left the beleaguered keeper with no chance and sealed his hat-trick. Gladwin finally bagged his long-awaited goal two minutes later.

A further Walton strike was blocked by the keeper and Roberts put away the rebound to make it 11-0.

Young substitute Dave Preece scored late on to complete a comprehensive victory for the elated hosts.

Thick said the fans’ support helped spur the players on and the availability of so many players gave him a pleasant selection headache.

Title hopefuls Colts play on the second pitch at New Street against Division Three leaders Dore Valley on Saturday (2pm).

On the main pitch on Saturday, fourth-placed Ledbury Town Reserves host basement boys Bartestree Reserves in Division One (2pm).

They are still able to use the ground despite the club closing due to rising costs.