LEDBURY Town lost their first pre-season friendly 6-2 at Gloucestershire Northern Senior Football League outfit Newent Town.

Phil Preedy’s visiting side from the troubled New Street club tried out a new first-team squad made up of several new signings as well as players from last season’s reserves and colts.

Although experienced players Martin Loveridge and Scott Roberts netted during an even first period, Newent, managed by former Ledbury boss Ben Symons, ran amok under the Gloucestershire sunset during the final half-hour.

Defender Carl Wildig cleared an early effort off the line, while the hosts’ keeper Matt Bickers twice denied Ledbury at the other end.

Loveridge opened the scoring for the Herefordshire League Premier Division side from Pat Morgan’s fine ball only for Newent to level on 25 minutes.

Roberts restored the lead five minutes before the interval with Morgan and Loveridge going close to increasing the advantage.

But Newent twice hit the post before equalising for the second time in the 50th minute.

They went ahead for the first time in the match following a 63rd-minute free-kick before adding three more goals as Ledbury’s defence was left in tatters.