RUSTY Ledbury Town slumped 5-1 at Dudley Town in their return to West Midlands League Premier Division action.

They started brightly against impressive opponents, despite their weather-enforced lay-off, and were unlucky not to take the lead.

Duncan Preedy's fierce drive had the home 'keeper well beaten but his effort rebounded back off the post on 14 minutes.

The scare seemed to wake Dudley as they scored twice in quick succession.

Barry Richards opened the scoring on 27 minutes as he ran onto a long ball and lobbed the onrushing Alex Goode from 20 yards.

Justin Nisbett made it two minutes later as he outpaced the Ledbury rear-guard and picked his spot.

Hope was restored for the visitors on 38 minutes as Mark Brookes' clever pass picked out Preedy who smashed the ball home from a tight angle.

Apart from a Lee Hooper effort which the home keeper tipped over the bar, Ledbury offered little in the second-half.

But Dudley's third goal appeared to be more than a little offside as Danny Ashton slotted home, despite appeals.

There was no disputing Dudley's fourth as Richard Young sent in a 30-yard thunderbolt and Wayne Lawley wrapped up a comfortable win in the dying minutes.