LEDBURY finally returned to their home patch and kept up their winning run with a hard-fought victory over Marches League Division Two table-toppers Llandrindod Wells.

Llandrindod captain Philip Butcher won the toss and chose to bat first on what was a good wicket.

Ledbury’s opening bowlers David Nash and Neil Andrews made batting tough for the openers and Andrews gained the first wicket having Adam Wright caught well in the slips by Luke Ledbury.

Nash kept up his recent fine form by bowling the dangerous Butcher and, when Andrews accounted for Stuart James, the away team were 43-3 off 13 overs.

Martin Hurst repairing the damage for Llandrindod and built a partnership with John Foster, before the latter was bowled by young leg-spinner Jamie Turner. Ledbury were in the ascendancy and Maurice Embrey came on and picked up two wickets, including the dangerous Hurst for 54, aided by two fine catches by Paddy Merryman.

Turner (3-43) also gained a further two wickets, before Nash (3-31) came back on to finish the Llandrindod innings as the visitors were dismissed for 173 in 42 overs.

In reply, Ledbury knew that they could go about their business steadily with three extra overs to get the required total if necessary.

Merryman fell early but, with Jamie Brighton joining the experienced Andrews, Ledbury remained confident.

However, Andrews and Paul Andrews both departed in quick succession to leave the hosts on 49-3.

Luke Ledbury was watchful in defence, but stylish in attack and the score had progressed to 126 when Brighton finally fell for 40. Ledbury reached his 50 with nine fours and a six, but holed out for 55 and Embrey then fell for 0 which left the hosts wobbling on 128-6.

This brought Nash and Turner together and, with only four-an-over required, the youngsters batted sensibly.

With 18 runs left for victory, Turner (25 not out) suddenly unleashed a flow of boundaries to race his side to victory. Ledbury took the full 20 points to depose Llandrindod from the top of the table and moved up to second place, a fraction behind new leaders Brockhampton.

It was a hard-fought victory, well earned by a resilient Ledbury side who are in good form at the moment.

Ledbury are back on the road tomorrow with a trip to Presteigne, players to meet at the ground at 12pm.