BIRTHDAY boy Keanu Cooper was the match-winner as AFC Ludlow kicked off their West Midlands (Regional) League Division One programme with a 2-1 victory at Shenstone Pathfinder.

Ludlow came from behind to bank all three points, with Cooper’s first-half strike proving the perfect birthday present - he turned 18 last Wednesday.?Shenstone, coached by ex-Aston Villa, Liverpool and Republic of Ireland star Steve Staunton, had taken a 19th-minute lead against the run of play.?Ludlow levelled when a Dale Hodge cross-shot was helped in by Danny Gower as Shenstone appealed for offside.

Ten minutes later Cooper then showed supreme opportunism to chase a through ball, out-muscle the Shenstone centre-half and tuck the ball home from a tight angle.?A jarred ankle saw Cooper replaced by Ryan Lewis at the break, and though both sides had half-chances in the second period, neither defence was breached again.

Hicks was a tower of strength for Ludlow.?AFC boss Dave Cooper said: “The pitch wasn’t the best but I was delighted with the character we showed after going behind.”?Cooper has to decide whether to stick with a winning team or make changes for this Saturday’s opening home game with Wem Town, who beat Bustleholme 2-0 last weekend.

Jamie Smith, ruled out with an ankle injury picked up in the pre-season win at Clee Hill, expects to be fit.?AFC Ludlow: Havard, Beaumont, Hicks, A Hodge, A Dovey, Hammonds (Vass 74), Edwards, D Hodge, Wellings, Gower (Everall 82), Cooper (Lewis 46).