TEN-MAN Ludlow rose to the occasion to beat Oswestry 4-3 in their final pre-season friendly fixture.

They again suffered from late withdrawals and the ten men faced some early pressure as they tested a new formation. But after settling down they took the lead with a well-rehearsed penalty corner from Vijay Chumber.

Oswestry carried on attacking and a penalty stroke was awarded for a stick tackle in the D which they converted.

This spurred Ludlow into life and a second penalty corner was scored by Chumber using the same routine. Then, late in the half, an attack down the Ludlow right saw a cross met by Sam Pratt to tumble the ball past the advancing keeper.

Oswestry started the second half strongly, exploiting their numerical advantage with attack after attack and eventually a ferocious shot was fortuitously deflected in to make it 3-2.

But Ludlow responded and were awarded a penalty flick for another stick tackle inside the D, with Sam Pratt stepping up to restore the two-goal lead.

Oswestry had the final word but Ludlow’s experienced defence denied them an equaliser and they go into this weekend’s opening league fixture at home to Solihull Blossomfield in good heart.

The 2nd XI fixture against Newtown was cancelled by the opposition while the 3rds were 1-0 winners over Bridgnorth, an excellent game between two well-matched and youthful teams decided by a George Wood goal in the second half. Mark Sandell was Ludlow’s standout performer while Tom Aston, Jack Wood and Jack Prescott also impressed.