AFC LUDLOW saw off local neighbours Church Stretton to lift the Ludlow Hospital Cup last Friday night - but it was a curate’s egg of a performance.

Dave Cooper’s side netted some quality goals in the 4-2 triumph, but looked far from convincing at the back at times against their Mercian League opponents.

Assistant boss Tim Moriarty admitted: “We will need to improve on that when the league season starts.

“We gave away two shocking goals and looked shoddy at times, though there were some good points too. Keanu Cooper looked head and shoulders the best player on the pitch, Jamie Hammonds has added some class to the side and Jason Wellings also looked good.

"But there is definite room for improvement.”

Ludlow raced into a 3-0 lead, with a 60-yard pass from Hammonds picking out Cooper to clip in a stylish opener, Ryan Lewis teeing up Wellings to thump number two into the top corner and Danny Gower then adding a third.

Goalkeeper Ian Havard conceded an unlucky own goal forced by Richard Groom to reduce the deficit and though Marian Jusko made it 4-1 with a deft one-on-one finish, Groom exposed some more dodgy defending with a second Stretton goal.

Boss Cooper, who rotated his substitutes to give every player involved a decent run-out, was putting on two more training sessions this week - after scheduled Tuesday night opponents Shifnal United 97 pulled out of their fixture - ahead of this weekend’s testing home friendly with Llanidloes Town (2.30pm).

The Welsh side beat Wroxeter Rovers from the Mercian League 9-1 last Friday night and are sure to give Ludlow a tough test.

Ludlow also meet West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division side Dudley Sports on the 3G surface at Ludlow Football Stadium next Wednesday night (7.30pm).