LEDBURY FC left it late but took all three points in their HFL Premier Division opener against Littleton.
Ben Sluman smashed the ball under the goalkeeper in the seventh minute of additional time, handing Ian Merrick's side a win on opening day.
Manager Merrick was satisfied with the performance but admitted there's still room to sharpen up.
"We probably shaded the first half and should have scored. Second half we were stretched and looked tired, but we dug deep and kept a clean sheet – that was the pleasing thing," he said.
"Craig [Howell] was fantastic – a real leader. Oscar [Bignell] was calm and commanding. Jim [Febery] was magnificent. Match sharpness will come, but there’s a good buzz around the squad."
Ledbury started brightly at Five Acres, nearly taking the lead inside two minutes when Cosmin Micula delivered a dangerous freekick that was flicked behind by a defender.
From the resulting corner, Howell rose highest but sent his header just wide.
A big chance fell to debutant Rory Wilkinson after a clever ball in behind, but the striker dragged his effort wide from a promising angle.
At the other end, Littleton’s Dean Fisher and Will Skelton combined well, but Skelton’s finish lacked control and flew over the bar.
Fisher then went close with a curling freekick that faded just wide of the right post.
The game’s first major flashpoint came before the break, when Littleton captain Kirk Layton appeared to kick out at Ben Febery while he was on the ground following a challenge.
The referee opted against a card despite protests from the Ledbury bench, with Merrick shown yellow for his reaction during a heated exchange between both dugouts.
That incident sparked a scrappy period as fouls and frustration disrupted the rhythm of the game.
Littleton struck the woodwork just before the break. Fisher’s powerful strike crashed against the post, with Liam Prestige missing the follow-up from close range.
Ledbury responded through James Febery, whose header from another Micula corner sailed narrowly wide.
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The second half began with Littleton in the ascendancy, and they nearly grabbed a fortunate opener when a quick Fisher free-kick skidded inches wide.
Fisher continued to threaten, and substitute Adam Watson delivered a teasing ball across the six-yard box that just evaded Skelton’s run.
The loose ball fell to Alistair Wright, whose low drive had Bignell scrambling, but drifted beyond the far post.
Chances remained few and far between until the final moments when Ledbury pushed bodies forward for one last set piece.
Micula floated the delivery to the far post, where it dropped for Sluman in the crowd - the forward made no mistake, rifling home to win it.
Littleton couldn’t muster a response in the final few minutes that remained, as Ledbury’s players mobbed their match-winner.
Ledbury return to action next Saturday, August 16. They travel to face Pershore Development, looking to build on their opening-day momentum.
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