Ledbury Town 2 Wulfs 1

There is a well known saying that goals win games.  If only this advice had been heeded by the many Wulfs players who spurned good chances.

Wulfs played the first half attacking down the slope and created the games first chance in the 8th minute when Danny Crudgington’s low free kick found its way through to James Skedgel but his snap shot flew way over the bar.

Just seconds later Ledbury keeper Jamie Moore sent a long clearance over the top of the Wulfs defense sending Ollie Endacott clear but Mark Tipton just managed to get back and put enough pressure on him to put him off his shot.

Wulfs had a great opportunity to take the lead in the 12th minute when Fraser Houston’s clever through ball sent Ricky Anslow bearing in on goal.

His first shot was blocked by the advancing keeper but he picked up the rebound, rounded the keeper and hit a shot that was just cleared off the line by a backtracking defender.

Wulfs continued to dominate and thought they had taken the lead in the 22nd minute.

A corner from the left was headed back across goal by James Skedgel where Earl Grant prodded it goalwards only for a defender in the back of the net to clear.  The linesman had a good look but decided the ball hadn’t crossed the line.

Grant then had two further chances to break the deadlock in the space of three minutes. 

First he ran on to a long Danny Tipton clearance before firing a first time shot over the bar from the edge of the area and then he headed over after finding himself unmarked eight yards out following Fraser Houston’s cross from the right.

Those missed chances proved crucial as Ledbury took the lead in the 33rd minute when a quick ball over the top put Ollie Endacott in the clear and he hit a shot across keeper Danny Tipton and in off the far post.

Wulfs looked to hit back immediately and went close with an Earl Grant shot just past the post before they eventually found the back of the net in the 37th minute.

Fraser Houston crossed in from the right, Ricky Anslow allowed the ball to go through to Richard Gummery and he sidestepped his marker before placing a shot perfectly into the top corner of the net.

A frenetic start to the second half saw Stewart Hall head a near post corner just over for Ledbury and then Wulfs spurn two more good opportunities in the space of a minute. 

First Fraser Houston slid a ball through to Ricky Anslow but his shot was blocked by the advancing Jamie Moore and then the same place fired first time over the bar from close range after Houston had supplied another superb cross in behind the Ledbury defence.

Ledbury still looked dangerous on the counter attack and should have done better when a misplaced cross field pass by a Wulfs defender landed at the feet of Ollie Endacott and he ran through in a four on one situation by Mark Tipton’s defending was exemplary as he managed to smuggle the ball out for a corner.

Danny Crudgington was then next to try his luck for Wulfs, breaking through the Ledbury defence before seeing his shot blocked and then Liam Evans missed a glorious chance in the 63rd minute. 

Having played a good one-two with Earl Grant, Evans then skipped past the last man before firing over with just the keeper to beat.

As with the first goal, Ledbury made Wulfs pay for a glaring miss just seconds later when a ball over the top put Zac Blood clear and he kept his composure to run through and hit a shot that was half blocked but still had enough to creep into the bottom corner of the net.

Ledbury’s Sam Dixon then shot over from the edge of the area before Wulfs failed to capitalise on another golden opportunity.  In the 73rd minute Fraser Houston supplied yet another quality ball across goal leaving Ricky Anslow with just the keeper to beat but Jamie Moore spread himself well and somehow managed to block the shot.

Wulfs final chance came four minutes from time.  Mark Tipton sent in a free kick from the left which was half cleared to substitute Robin Sheffield who sent a header back off the post. 

A scramble ensued but Ledbury eventually managed to clear and with it secure all three points.