AFC Ludlow 1 Penkridge Town 3

FORMER skipper Jamie Marsh still has a role to play at AFC Ludlow – and is expected to line-up in a friendly tonight (Thursday).

Marsh is the brother-in-law of manager Dave Cooper, whose men host Kington Town at the Showtime Stadium.

Cooper said: “Jamie is taking a bit of time out from the game but he’s agreed to play for me on Thursday night.

“I have not given up hope on Jamie because he’s an excellent player and he loves the club.”

Ludlow are without a match this Saturday, but have slipped to sixth spot in West Midlands League Division Two.

Cooper said his side were ‘very unlucky’ in last weekend’s 3-1 home defeat against Penkridge Town.

“We had a good enough side but Penkridge had three shots on target and scored three goals,” said Cooper.

“There have been times when we’ve played terribly at home but, on this occasion, we were very unlucky.

“We hit the bar and a post, their goalkeeper made some great saves and we had a goal disallowed.

“Penkridge’s first goal was offside – and the assistant-referee apologised to us at half time because he had got it wrong.”

Dale Hodge levelled through Dale Hodge with 20 minutes remaining, but Penkridge struck twice to snatch the points.

“We are 10 points behind Team Dudley with a game in hand and we have to play them twice.”

New captain Jack Beaumont said: “I received a text from one of the lads last week, saying he had stopped playing. I couldn’t believe it - he is a big loss for us.”

“I think winning promotion this season is now a big task. But we will keep plugging away until the championship is a mathematic impossibility.”

Meanwhile, Maria Francis is AFC Ludlow’s new events manager. Maria takes over from Vicki Marsh, who has left the club.

For more information call Maria Francis on 07817845940.