AFC Ludlow boss Dave Cooper says he has accepted his side's title bid is over after watching his players let another lead slip.

Second-placed Ludlow are now ten points adrift of leaders Bromyard Town in West Midlands League Division One after last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Shenstone Pathfinders.

Cooper says his side should have won the game but believes the lack of strikers at the club is proving a hindrance.

"We are crying out for a centre forward," said Cooper.

"Defensively I think we are good enough.

"If we had Nathan Hodge, who has been out injured all season, these last five or six games, we would be top of the league.

"But we are not going to win the league this season so we have got to look forward to next season.

"There's not enough goals in the team this campaign."

Ludlow took the lead on Saturday through Luke Hicks but, having missed numerous chances, Shenstone equalised late on following a defensive mistake.

"One mistake has cost us the win," added Cooper.

"It deflates you. There were some positives but we just cannot see a game out.

"We've got no-one to blame but ourselves."

Ludlow sit second in the table and travel to Trysull this weekend.