Ross Juniors' interest in the HFA County Challenge Cup was ended at the hands of Ledbury Town, on Tuesday night, in a 3-0 defeat.

A spectacular volley into the top corner, from Ledbury's Martin Loveridge, ten minutes before half time, was the highlight of a turgid match with little real quality on display.

Minutes into the second half Ross defender Carl Roberts caught Ledbury's Jamie Welch and the referee gave the home team a penalty. Dan Herbert lashed home the spot kick.

The two goalscorers then combined late on to complete the scoring when Herbert headed home Loveridge's corner from six yards.

Ross keeper Aaron Thornley could do little for any of the goals and was Ross' best performer on the night as the defence in front of him creaked under the pressure created by Ledbury's monopoly of possession.

In the first half, that dominance was not reflected in the number of chances created. Ross struggled to get out of their own half for long periods but Ledbury, playing with four players all suited to a central role across their midfield, lacked penetration.Ross defended well through the middle of the pitch with Andrew Densley and Jon Tookey working hard to force Ledbury wide but Ross, as a team, were wasteful in possession and frequently gave the ball away when pressed by Ledbury's busy Josh Emery.

Ross looked bright on the counter attack in the first half but Harry Hall, Dewi Stuart and Lee Walker were unable to make anything of the half chances which came their way.

Loveridge's goal was superb, cutting across the ball from the left of the box to find the top right corner. It came at a time in the match where Ledbury's possession without creation had become monotonous. Minutes later Loveridge missed an easier chance from close range, and after Sam Dixon cut the ball back into the box from the byline onrushing Ledbury players were unable to reach a chance which would have secured the result before halftime.

However, the penalty decision and resulting goal from Herbert, early in the second half, killed the game.

Dewi Stuart had Ross' only real chance of the second period when he went through one on one after sloppy play by Ledbury's James Febery. However, while Stuart lifted the bouncing ball over Ledbury keeper Lewis Skyers, he sent it wide.

Aaron Thornley was the busier of the keepers in the second half and as the game wore on he was forced into making a decent save from Jamie Welch. However, he could only watch after another Welch chance, a brilliant volley, flew past him but cracked the upright and away to safety.

Joe Loftus came on as a second half substitute and Ross' organisation improved due to his presence but with fifteen minutes to play Dan Herbert rose unmarked to plant his header into the net and put the game beyond the Juniors.

For more stories in full please see this week's Ross Gazette.