In a fast and furious game at Yarnfield’s Wellbeing Park on 14th September, Stone Old Alleynians (not for the first time this season) were slow out of the blocks against Ledbury and found the half-time deficit too much to claw back.
Ledbury had both the height and strength advantage over the Old Boys and with a very effective offside trap made it pay with three first-half goals.
The home side were starting to apply some pressure of their own, with Adam Tomkinson going close, when the visitors struck on 12 minutes with a quick break that left them clear on goal. Again the Old Alleynians were beginning to apply some pressure and some good inter-passing football ended with a Seydou shot being deflected for the first of two successive corner and they were unlucky not to equalise but centre-back Mike Davies’s overhead kick came back off the crossbar. Then a Danny Heard turn and shot from the corner of the area was brilliantly tipped over at full stretch before Ledbury, who always looked dangerous, increased their lead on 40 minutes.
The referee unfortunately deflected a Stone pass to put the visitors on the attack and again they outnumbered the Stone defenders to score with ease. A hesitant home defence on half-time let Ledbury get their third and the Old Boys found themselves going in at halftime with a mountain to climb.
Half Time:- Stone Old Alleynians 0 – Ledbury 3
The second half started off as a bit of an anti-climax but gradually the Alleynians started to force Ledbury deeper and they should have pulled a goal back but Grant Bigham’s shot lacked power, with just the keeper to beat as he latched onto a Heard pass.
This gave the Stone side some encouragement and they were now dominating the game but their goal at the mid-point of the half started with a good save from Adam Heath, who threw the ball out to sub Carl Dibden, back after injury. His sweeping ball out to Tomkinson was returned to him to shoot from distance. This effort was blocked but his follow-up rocketed into the back of the net, via Danny Heard, before the keeper could move.
This gave the hosts more encouragement and Heard sent Bigham clear on goal but his attempted lob cleared the crossbar. All the pressure for the last 15 minutes was now from the Old Alleynians and half chances came and went before they ran out of time.
Final Score:- Stone Old Alleynians 1 – Ledbury 3
On Saturday 21st September the Old Alleynians are away to Gornall Athletic (3pm)
