COACH Jamie Morris believes AFC Ludlow will be the county's non-league team to beat within the next three years, writes LEWIS DEAKIN.

Youngsters Keanu Cooper, Liam Taylor and Kieran Dovey can all fire the football club into the West Midlands Premier Division, claims Morris.

He has urged AFC Ludlow to hang on to all of their West Midlands League Division Two stars for next term.

Morris said: “Our youngsters are getting better every game. Jake Pryce was superb last season for us – we expect a high level of performance from him every week. Keanu is in his first season of men’s football – he is improving each week. Liam is top draw – he has been fantastic at the back all year. Liam is very vocal and he organises the defence well. Kieran he is a special talent – he has come into our first-team and it has been no problem for him to settle in.

If we can all stick together for the next few years – that would be a big incentive for us to get back into the West Midlands Premier League.

“In two seasons – I believe AFC Ludlow will be the local non-league team to beat in Shropshire. Hopefully, by then we will be playing in the West Midlands League Division One.”

Morris added: “I think our title ambitions will come down to that game. I fancy us to beat Dudley again. It would be nice if the championship could be decided that way. But there is nothing we can do if Dudley or Wrens Nest win their games.”

Morris believes AFC Ludlow will be too much to handle for hosts Malvern Rangers this weekend.

AFC Ludlow will travel to Rangers looking to do the double on the road after their 13-1 win at the Showtime Stadium.

He said: “I would fancy us to beat anyone on our day. I would expect us to win against Rangers. We beat them 13-1 without our goal-machine Nathan Hodge, so imagine the scoreline if he had been playing.

“We have always had the best goal difference ever since I joined Town back when Michael Seaborne was manger. Nathan and Dan Gower were banging in the goals for us last year. Last season when we won the Mercian League we had the best goal difference.

“I think this season either us or Dudley had the best goal difference, before Nathan returned to AFC Ludlow. Since his comeback we definitely have the strongest goal difference now. But the title will be decided on points this season.”