Herefordshire League: AFC Worcester 2-1 Ledbury Town FC

The 2-1 defeat was a game Ledbury never quite got to grips with, and one that will frustrate manager Ian Merrick.

Ledbury started well enough. They pressed high and forced Worcester back in the early exchanges, with Sam Webb heading a long throw straight at Worcester keeper after just a few minutes.

Worcester grew into the match, and Max Holley began to find pockets of space in midfield.

He miscued one early effort into Oscar Bignell's arms but forced the keeper into a sharp stop shortly after when a Ledbury turnover handed Worcester possession in a dangerous area.

Ledbury had a great chance to take the lead. Ben Febery won the ball back in midfield and picked out Rory Wilkinson, whose low ball across the face of goal was destined for the net.

A fine reaction save kept it out, the ball spilled loose, but the Worcester keeper gathered it back before Ryan Dobbins could capitalise.

Holley punished them for it. Stepping up to a free-kick on the edge of the box, awarded after a James Febery foul, he curled it into the top right corner past a rooted Bignell.

They kept at it though. Febery found Wilkinson again inside the area but the chance was blazed wide.

It looked as though Worcester would go into the break ahead but Cosmin Micula delivered a fine ball into the box, James Febery glanced it back across goal, and Ryan Pugh was there to meet it with a diving header.

Worcester came out with more of the same in the second half. Holley dragged Ali Holder out of position down the left and threaded the ball into the run of the fullback, whose cut-back found Harry Potts arriving at the back post.

Potts knocked it goalwards, Bignell thought he had kept it out on the line, and the linesman thought differently. A poacher's finish, and enough to win it.

Ledbury had a go from there. Wilkinson had a shot, Dobbins saw one blocked, but Worcester were comfortable enough in the end and saw it out without too many scares.