LEDBURY FC manager Ian Merrick has said that 'something isn't quite sitting right' with his side since the turn of the New Year.
In their last game Ledbury faced up with a high-flying New Dales Vale team, vying for promotion from the Herefordshire ZZOOMM Premier League.
Ledbury went into the half time break at a 3-0 deficit. They did look to mount a comeback in the second half but ultimately New Dales were able to shut them out and take a 5-2 win.
"To be quite truthful we started the game very poorly," admitted Merrick. "We conceded a goal within two minutes and it was a great finish.
"Defensively we were a bit open in midfield and they’ve put in a through ball that has cut us apart and within minutes they’ve scored.
"The conditions were shocking but from then on the first half was one-way traffic really. We’ve had a couple of opportunities, hit the bar, I think if we went in 2-0 down at half time we might have had a chance but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb in that first half and gave away three poor goals."
Merrick had to give his side a strong talking-to in the break and they put on an improved showing in the second period.
"Some stern words at half time seemed to work and we got two back. The second was a bit of a dubious penalty and they went down the other end, the referee was probably looking to level that one up, so they got a penalty – a bit dubious as well – and unfortunately that was game over then," said Merrick.
"We threw more men forward trying to get another goal back but they hit us on the counter attack.
"A disappointing display really because I think they're not a bad team but maybe we think we are a little bit better than we are because they beat us comfortably.
"The first 25 minutes of the second half were better, but the truth of the matter was they couldn’t have been much worse. Since the turn of the year something isn't quite sitting right at the moment."
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Next time out Ledbury travel to Claines Lane to play Worcester City's reserve side.
"We altered the formation against New Dales to be a bit more compact and defensively solid but found ourselves 3-0 down, I’m actually mindful to go back to being a bit more cavalier and gung-ho because that seemed to be a bit more fruitful, especially before Christmas," said Merrick.
"Worcester City Reserves have got some good players. We will have to play well to get a positive result there."
One factor that could come into play is the Claines Lane pitch - one that has struggled with the recent weather conditions, and has been boggy when the City's first team has had to play on it.
"I suspect that probably will help us really because the New Street pitch is also a tough one," said Merrick.
"That actually helps us because we can make it into a battle and we’ve got some lads that really will battle hard for second balls and get around the pitch and they’re used to it.
"That shouldn’t really affect us, you just hope that we can go there and give a good showing."
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