LUDLOW were made to pay for some fundamental errors in defence, as they maintained their topsy-turvy start to the season with a narrow defeat at Barwell in the Midland Alliance League.

After a reasonable first half showing, which saw them deservedly cancel out a strike from the home team, they failed to build on this as they lacked the punch to add to their tally, and at the same time gifted their opponents a winner midway through the second period.

Ludlow started brightly but failed to breakdown the home defence and then found themselves trailing when Rich Walker took advantage of some slack marking at a short corner to net with a header from three yards.

Advantage

Undeterred the visitors fought back and cancelled out the advantage from another corner situation. Will Hughes came up from full back for the set-piece and volleyed home from inside the box as the ball broke to him.

Ludlow started the second half in confident mood but failed to break down a resolute home defence. In a game of few goal-scoring opportunities it was important to maintain concentration but this is exactly what the visitors failed to do just after the hour mark. An innocuous looking ball across the goalmouth, which should have been cleared, was allowed to find Walker two yards out, and he gratefully tapped the ball home.

The home team played out the final third of the game without serious alarm to condemn the visitors to their second defeat in three games.