LUDLOW Hockey Club slipped to a 5-2 friendly defeat at Hereford in a reverse of the same scoreline the last time the two sides met.

The Shropshire side led at half time through an excellent individual goal by James Pratt.

Several clear openings were then missed with Ludlow forcing the Hereford goalkeeper into a number of saves.

Ludlow started the second half well, hitting the woodwork twice and making goalscoring look difficult.

Hereford sensed an opportunity to get back in the game as a defensive error allowed them an easy goal.

Ludlow then had three players yellow-carded in the space of just ten minutes.

One seemed to be a harsh decision following a technical offence but the other two were for direct verbal abuse of the umpire.

During the period of mayhem, Hereford scored four more goals and they showed Ludlow how to finish off fast breaking approach play.

Graham Hutchinson converted a consolation penalty corner two minutes from the end.