LEDBURY FC achieved back-to-back wins for the first time this season, as they saw off Ludlow Town 4-1.
Ian Merrick's Ledbury side dug deep after Craig Howell was dismissed mid-way through the second half, with Ryan Dobbins' late goal making sure of the points.
Ledbury started strongly with an early breakthrough coming from Tom Boyle's pinpoint free kick, leaving James Byatt rooted to his line, and sending the away side up.
The home team absorbed Ledbury's early pressure, and as the half dwindled on, Ludlow had a great opportunity which fell to Peter Lucas whose first-time effort missed the target from close range.
Tom Boyle came close to getting his second of match as his long-range effort crashed against the post, evading the outstretched arm of the Ludlow keeper.
The away side were made to pay for that miss. Thomas Poyner found space inside the box and unleashed a shot - Archie Hughes was unable to keep the effort out, despite getting a strong touch.
Ludlow nearly doubled their goal tally moments later, with Louis George Griffiths delivering the ball into Poyner, whose effort looked to have lobbed a scrabbling Hughes, but was just denied by the bar.
Moments later Ledbury's lead was restored. Pat Morgan won the away side a penalty, which was then coolly dispatched by Josh Burns.
Ledbury had another excellent opportunity before the break, Josh Burns the provider, Tom Boyle with another impressive strike, but - yet again - denied by the woodwork.
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On another day Boyle might have had a hattrick before the break, though he nearly gifted Ludlow a goal before the half as he was dispossessed near the box by Lloyd Morton whose curled shot sailed wide of the right post.
The second half was a much more equal affair in the early stages with both sides exchanging chances, but it was Ledbury who converted early on to extend their lead.
The ball was played into Dobbins, who flicked it on to find Burns. He neatly tucked the ball past the upcoming Ludlow keeper, to put his side 3-1 up.
Ludlow keeper Byatt then played a long ball that caught the Ledbury defence out, Joshua Dalsan managed to get a shot away, but defender Tom Watkins got back to send the ball out for a corner.
Ledbury had similar a chance shortly after. Hughes played a long ball out towards Burns who controlled the ball and beat his man, but had his shot smartly saved by Byatt at the near post.
A lifeline was then handed to Ludlow as Howell's reckless stamping challenge on Louis George Griffiths, brought his match to an untimely end, with 30 minutes still to play.
A man up, Ludlow dominated the ball but lacked the killer touch in front of goal to reignite their chances of getting something out the contest.
A quick counter late on all but sealed the match, as Ledbury's Burns was again at the heart of the attack.
The cross found Cosmin Micula, whose effort was brilliantly saved, but Dobbins was there to stroke home to give Ledbury back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
The result takes Ledbury up to eighth in the league, with their final game before Christmas promising to be a heated fixture, taking on Bromyard in the local derby.
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