LEDBURY FC picked up a much needed three points, with a 2-0 victory over Hereford Pegasus Development. Goals from Tom Boyle and Josh Burns proved the difference for the home side on the day.
Ian Merrick's side had only picked up three points in their last five games, after seeing a slump in results since the turn of the year.
The home side dominated the first period of play, as they moved the ball quickly through the lines and looked dangerous in the wide areas.
Pegasus were much improved in the second half but were wasteful in front of goal, squandering several opportunities to draw level.
Ledbury started brightly early on as Burns' delivery bounced round the box and found Nathan Ince whose effort was narrowly deflected wide of the goal.
Burns should have opened the scoring minutes later, a great ball from Dean Lee evaded everyone in the box. The chance fell to Burns who was unable to get sufficient contact on his strike to trouble keeper Aiden Bryant in the Pegasus net.
Tom Boyle then won the home side a penalty as he was hacked down inside the penalty area, after Burns' shot bounced into the path of the striker.
Ben Miller stepped up to take the spot kick, but it was saved excellently down low by Bryant, to kept the scores level.
Hereford had a couple of chances in the first period, the best falling to Ben Tootell whose powerful header ricocheted off the Ledbury bar.
Pegasus' number 11 Noah Wickham converted the rebound, but the goal was subsequently ruled out for a push inside the area.
The home side moved the ball well and were rewarded when Jack Howes' header caught out the Pegasus defence, as Tom Boyle fired his shot home from a tight angle across the keeper and into the side netting.
Ince should have doubled Ledbury's advantage before the break. A long free kick from Howes was controlled well in the area, but it was quickly smothered by Bryant, who was alert to the danger.
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The second period saw a shift in momentum, Pegasus finding more space and passing the ball through the lines better, rather than resorting to long-balls which had not worked in the first half.
Though it was Ledbury who had the first chance as Howes fired a free header agonisingly wide of the post.
It was all Pegasus from then, as they dominated the last 30 minutes.
Substitute Lucas Hipwell troubled the Ledbury defence when he came on, as he cut past two and slipped in Wickham, who somehow missed the target one-on-one with the keeper.
Moments later Pegasus should have scored again, Jude Cook delivered a ball across, Hipwell looked to have bundled it in but the ball was cleared off the line at the final second.
The home side eventually sealed the match with a quick break that saw substitute Harry Phillips play through Burns, who cleverly chipped the ball over the on-coming Bryant
The result saw Ledbury win for the first time since the start of February, as they move up to 10th in the league with eight games left to play.
Ledbury have a quick turnaround in games as they take on Gloucester City Reserves away on Wednesday, March 12.
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