A LUKE Pugh hat-trick handed the points to Woofferton as they saw off visitors Ludlow Colts 4-2 in Division One of the Herefordshire County League.

And the result means it is three straight defeats for the Colts who will be looking to get off the mark when they play their first home game of the season this weekend.

At Brimfield it was the Colts who started the better only for Pugh to net his first midway through the half when he rounded keeper Kieron Roche before placing the ball into the empty net.

The striker netted again ten minutes later when, after seeing his initial shot blocked, he hooked the ball over Roche with his back to goal.

Ludlow rallied and pulled a goal back just before the break through when Jack Bright’s shot beat Blues keeper Richard Moore.

The second half started brightly for both teams with a lot of counter attacking football but it was the home side who added to the scoreline just after the hour when Dan Gower scored from a Blues break, collecting a long pass from Marian Jusko before slipping the ball beyond Roche and into the net.

Pugh completed his hat-trick before new signing Toby Siveter bagged a second for the Colts when he turned in a cross.

Woofferton spokesman Dave Thomas said: “It was far from an easy game to win as Ludlow have some very good young technical players and we were tested in a lot of areas.

“Our lads battled well and chances were taken by us and especially by Luke Pugh.”

Both sides picked up injuries during the game with the Blues losing John Burgoyne with facial injuries after he clashed with fellow defender Jak Lewis leading to a five-minute delay so that he could be treated.

For Colts, midfielder George Sankey suffered a knee injury much to the frustration of manager Christian Leech.

“He landed awkwardly on his knee and it looks like he could be out for a few weeks,” he explained.

“It was a frustrating game.

"We controlled the first 20 or 25 minutes but then lost our way and conceded two goals.

“We’ve played three games and have nothing to show for it.

"And yet none of those sides have been head and shoulders above us, it’s just that we haven’t fully applied ourselves – we have to understand how to deal with situations.

“We are getting stronger each week.

"On Saturday we had Simon Bull back in defence and Toby Siveter has joined, scored a good goal and also hit the crossbar.”

Colts play their first home game of the season this Saturday when they take on Holme Lacy Reserves.

Woofferton are at home to Hinton Reserves as they look to make it three wins on the bounce against one of the division’s leading outfits.