A LAST-minute winner sealed a 2-1 victory for Ledbury Town in a feisty derby against Malvern Town Reserves.

The New Street hosts took the honours in the Herefordshire FA County League Premier Division with goals from Tom Trigg and returning striker Josh Burns on 70 and 89 minutes.

Malvern’s Luke Gaffney was shown a straight red card by referee Brian Holyman just under half-an-hour in for continued dissent according to Ledbury.

Both sides battled hard to reach a goalless stalemate by the interval before Malvern broke the deadlock in the 66th minute when Henry Dyde struck a deflected effort off young captain Trigg over the head of keeper Sean Arrowsmith.

Ledbury hit back quickly with Trigg rolling the ball in through a melee of players in the box shortly after a corner was taken by team-mate Curt Williams to level the score.

An exciting finale saw a disallowed goal from Ledbury's Joe Bullock on 82 minutes in and a yellow card for hard-working home midfielder Charlie Jones who was voted their man of the match.

Burns then fired home the winner out of the blue to cause the home half of the 80-strong crowd to erupt with joy.

Arrowsmith saved well at his near post on 14 minutes before Gaffney's sending off left Malvern playing two-thirds of the match with just 10 men.

A Williams free-kick was held by the away keeper before Malvern rattled the bar following a dangerous cross with the Ledbury keeper gratefully clutching the rebound.

Dyde's goal for the Worcestershire side forced the hosts to up the pace with Trigg and Burns deciding a tense encounter.

Ledbury remain fourth in the table but now three points clear of Malvern as they launch a bid to re-enter the top three with a third and final consecutive home game of March against Fownhope on Saturday (2.30pm).

“I really felt for the lads at the end,” said Malvern manager Peter Daffin whose fifth-placed side host Tenbury Town on Saturday (2.30pm).

“We played for 80 minutes with 10 men but gave 100 per cent effort and worked hard for each other.

“We never gave up the fight and created the better of the chances. To lose it so late on was really disappointing.

“There were four under 18s out there and each one of them did the club proud which all bodes well for the future.”

Ledbury Town Reserves’ bid to climb back out of the Division One relegation zone suffered a bitter blow when they lost 4-2 at bottom-placed Ewyas Harold Reserves.

Luke Cox, Alistair Holder, Kieran Loveridge and Sam Branch shone for Ledbury.

The goals came courtesy of Loveridge and Marc Wildig as Gavin Walton was named man of the match for the visitors.

Ledbury remain only two points below Hereford Lads Club Reserves just above them with four games still in hand as they visit third-placed Wellington Colts on Saturday (2.30pm).

Meanwhile, Malvern Vale won 4-1 against Kington Town Reserves in Division Two through Jack Edwards, Dion Francis, man of the match Luke Henney and Callum Hill.