LEDBURY Town returned to winning ways with an emphatic 5-0 victory over lowly Leominster Town in the Herefordshire FA County League Premier Division.

Leominster arrived at New Street on the back of a 16-0 defeat at the hands of leaders Wellington Rangers just two days before.

But they provided stubborn resistance in the opening period with Curt Williams’ 26th minute penalty separating the two sides at the break.

Town then upped the ante with clinical passing play and good discipline as Charlie Docherty cracked a second-half hat-trick.

Archie White added a fifth in the closing minutes as Ledbury ended a run of three straight league losses with a comfortable win.

The hosts received a wake-up call on 20 minutes when a 25-yard strike from Leominster was saved thanks to the good reactions of James Loader.

Harri Jones was unlucky to hook the ball over the bar before the referee pointed to the spot after Docherty was pushed in the area. Williams then stepped up and scored.

But it was not until the 54th minute when Ledbury grabbed their second. Shortly after seeing his deflected effort from a challenging ankle go inches wide Docherty headed in Williams’ corner.

Town had further chances before Docherty struck on 68 minutes when he held up the ball on the edge of the area and fired home.

A poor challenge on Docherty gave the Ledbury frontman a chance from the penalty spot on 87 minutes – and he made no mistake.

The hosts kept pushing as a terrific free-kick from Joe Bullock was nodded narrowly over by Dwayne Tyndale.

And with seconds remaining White completed the scoring when he slammed in a fifth.

Just two days after the win, though, Town then suffered a 2-0 defeat to Malvern Town U21s in the Herefordshire FA Charity Bowl final at Westfields’ Allpay Park.

They will look to bounce back when they visit Leominster on Saturday (2.30pm).

Ledbury Town Reserves recovered from a 2-0 deficit to win 8-2 at Division One strugglers Ewyas Harold Reserves.

Mark Taylor and Nick Bolton both bagged braces, with Kieran Loveridge, Alistair Holder, Alex Kitch and Ian Bennett all adding to the tally.

The reserves host Ludlow Town Colts on Saturday (2.30pm).