AFC Ludlow boss Dave Cooper disappointed after AFC Ludlow's 1-1 draw against Shifnal United 97 (From Ludlow Advertiser)

AFC Ludlow boss Dave Cooper disappointed after AFC Ludlow's 1-1 draw against Shifnal United 97 in Mercian League Premier Division

8:00am Friday 18th January 2013 in Sport By Ian Morgan

AFC Ludlow 1 Shifnal United 97 1

BOSS Dave Cooper believes AFC Ludlow’s point against Shifnal could be vital in the Mercian League Premier Division title race.

Jamie Hammonds cracked in a 25-yard leveller for second-placed Ludlow, who dominated last weekend’s home match but couldn’t grab a winner.

Dave Humphries was inches away from being Ludlow’s hero - his shot in the dying minutes was tipped on to a post.

Ludlow had won their previous nine outings and are now just two points behind table-topping Church Stretton with five matches in hand.

“We dominated the game without taking our chances,” admitted Cooper, whose side host Allscott at the SBS Stadium this Satuday. “We played as well as we have this season, particularly in the second-half. But all of our players were very down after the game.

“If we had scored a second goal, I think we would have gone on to hit five or six.

“Our keeper, Ian Havard, saved a one-on-one chance and got his hand to their goal but, apart from that, he had nothing to do.

“That’s only our second draw of the season.

“We should have taken three points but that point could be very important at the end of the season.”

Shifnal went ahead when Adie Marsh half-cleared a free-kick and a visting player rifled the ball into the net.

Ludlow levelled on the stroke of half-time through Hammonds’ stunning strike.

Cooper says Danny Gower will be available for this Saturday’s match against Allscott and he hopes to get international clearance for Dale Hodge.

“Allscott have had some decent results and scored three goals in a defeat against Morda,” said Cooper.

“It is going to be a hard test but we will look forward to the challenge and, hopefully, we can go on another run of games.”

Ludlow have arranged a home friendly against Churchstoke, managed by Julian Marsh, next Wednesday (7.45pm kick-off).

Nathan Hodge, who also plays for Ludlow, scored six goals for Haughmond in their 7-0 win at Mahal in West Midlands League Division One.