AMBITIOUS AFC Ludlow boss Dave Cooper is hoping to add to his squad as he looks ahead to building on a successful first season in Division One of the West Midlands (Regional) League.

Ludlow, who came up as champions of Division Two last year, finished a laudable sixth in the table - and lost 1-0 in the final of the Division One Cup to Team Dudley last Wednesday night.

Cooper was disappointed with the performance at Wolverhampton Casuals, with Ludlow losing to a 58th-minute sucker punch goal from burly Dudley striker Ryan Spittle.

He said: “It was a tight game but they were better than us in the second half and we couldn’t break them down.

"If I am honest, it looked like we hadn’t played for two or three weeks.

“We were done by trying to play a 65-yard cross-field ball that wiped our midfield out and cost us the goal.

"But I have no complaints, too many of my players let themselves down and they will know that. Team Dudley looked as if they wanted it more than us.

“Nobody wants runners-up medals but it’s been a good season, to finish sixth and reach the cup final.

"Now we need to regroup and look ahead to next season.

“Hopefully we can now add a couple of players over the summer and start again.

"I’d love to get Danny Gower (the Woofferton captain) to come and play for us full-time but we will have to see what develops.

"I will look at any player who I think will improve the side.

“I also think George Sankey has a big part to play.

"He can become a great player for us.

"It has been his first full season of senior football and he is quick and direct.”

Gower and Sankey were both second-half substitutes as Ludlow chased an equaliser in last week's final at the Brinsford Stadium.

"The teenage Sankey made a big impact down the left while Gower fired a late free-kick over the bar.

Ludlow had the better of the ball in the first half but Nathan Hodge, looking a little rusty in front of goal after his injury-plagued season, failed to take their best chance on 33 minutes, Dudley goalkeeper Josh Davies blocking with his legs.

In the second half Ludlow had what looked like a clear penalty claim waved aside when Jamie Smith’s piledriver appeared to be handled in the box and the influential Luke Hicks headed over, but they were left to ponder on what might have been.

Skipper Jack Beaumont was excellent at the back, and Hicks won more than his fair share of headers at both ends of the pitch.

But Dudley managed to all but nullify the skilful playmaking of Kieran Dovey and Keanu Cooper and the Ludlow strike-force were mainly left feeding off scraps.