LEDBURY Town retained their West Midlands Regional League Division One status for another year despite a 4-2 defeat at home to Mahal last Wednesday (April 23).
Results elsewhere mean 14th-placed St. Martins can now only match Ledbury’s points, but with an inferior goal difference Paul Mann’s side can declare themselves safe.
Two strikes from Rajveer Sandhar, a Huddy Shorcara effort and a goal from Aaron Bains put the visitors in complete control before a late brace from Jamie Welch pulled two back.
The visitors came closest early on when Sanchez Chatha hit the post with a free-kick before Joel Skyers delivery was headed just wide by Dan Herbert for Town.
The deadlock was broken after 13 minutes as Sandhar fired past Elliot Watts, before the teenage keeper made amends to keep out Thomas Stevens minutes later.
A disastrous eight minute spell at the start of the second period saw the game slip away from Ledbury. Barely 60 seconds into proceedings Shorcara found space to rifle home and double the advantage.
It was 3-0 after 52 minutes when Watts could only palm a Sandhar effort into the back of the net and Mahal made it two goals in two minutes when Bains drilled home.
A mass brawl ensured both sides would end the game with ten apiece after Chatha threw Joel Skyers to the ground after 70 minutes. Skyers reaction saw both players sent for an early bath.
Welch then singlehandedly tried to pull his side back into it as he scored with 18 minutes remaining and then again in the closing stages, but it wasn’t to be as Ledbury ended their final game of the season at New Street with defeat.
MALVERN Town reached the final of the Smedley Cup after an 82nd minute winner from Dave Reynolds secured a 1-0 win over Paget Rangers. Town will compete against either Pilkington or Bromsgrove Sporting for the silverware.