Hat-tricks for Nathan Hodge and Tom Everall as Ludlow win at Wellington (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Hat-tricks for Nathan Hodge and Tom Everall as Ludlow win at Wellington

2:00pm Wednesday 29th August 2012 in Sport

TOM Everall and Nathan Hodge bagged hat-tricks in AFC Ludlow’s impressive 7-2 win at Wellington Amateurs Reserves in the Mercian League Premier Division.

Hodge hit a second-half treble and new-signing Simon Bradley also scored for Ludlow, who travel to FC Hodnet this Saturday.

Ludlow manager Dave Cooper made an appearance in goal, less than a month after saying he hoped to hang up his gloves.

However, Ian Havard is expected to be in goal for Ludlow in this weekend’s tough trip to Hodnet.

Ludlow spokesman Mike Seaborne said: “You have to earn your right to play football - you have to win your battles first and we did that.

“Wellington finished third in the league last year and we beat them in the league cup sem-final.

They are a decent side.”

Everall’s struck twice to put Ludlow 2-0 ahead in the first-half of Saturday’s match but Wellington hit back to level before the interval.

Seaborne said: “Hopefully, this will be a springboard because I am fed up with us huffing and puffing and then ending with a whimper.”

Church Stretton suffered a 4-1 defeat at Oakengates Athletic but Brown Clee roared to a 3-1 home win over Oswestry Lions in Division One.

Danny Hicks hit a hat-trick as Leintwardine Colts clinched the inaugural North Herefordshire Super League Shield after a 4-2 win over Weobley.

Chris Shurmer’s Leintwardine side trailed twice in the final but fought back through Hicks’ treble and Pat Layton’s deflected strike to seal the silverware.

Goalkeeper Bryn Alford shone for Leintwardine, who had booked their place in the final after shooting down hosts Shobdon.

Defending Mid-Wales League South champions Newcastle have opened this season’s campaign with two away wins.

A brace from the returning Scott Oxford and a Carl Price goal helped Newcastle to a hardfought 3-2 win at Radnor Valley in blustery conditions.

Previously, goals from Richard Williams (2) and Oxford helped Newcastle to a 3-2 victory at Presteigne Reserves.

Tenbury Colts will be making their debut in the Herefordshire League Division Three on Saturday.

Colts are hosting Kington Town Reserves at St Michael’s College and will be hoping to bounce back from Saturday’s 8-0 friendly drubbing at Woofferton.

Tenbury Athletic are also in action this weekend, travelling to play Plough in their Herefordshire Sunday League Division One North opener.