GOALKEEPER Ian Havard took the plaudits as AFC Ludlow stretched their unbeaten West Midlands (Regional) League run to nine games as a contest of two contrasting halves at Trysull ended 1-1.

The Division One leaders, now four points clear at the top, controlled the first 45 minutes, Keanu Cooper levelling with a terrific 25-yarder after Trysull had stolen the lead, and Ludlow then battering the home team. But the interval disrupted their momentum and Havard had to be at his best in the second period.

Boss Dave Cooper laid it on the line to his players at the end, admitting: “It was like someone switched a button and we turned off.

“We were terrible in the second half and had it not been for Ian Havard, we would have lost. One of his saves was the best I have seen at this level.”

Trysull opened the scoring with the normally solid Ludlow rearguard at sixes and sevens, but AFC responded well, with Ryan Lewis a constant menace. Jamie Edwards dummied a cross from Lewis to allow Cooper to rifle home and Ludlow then poured forward, Edwards hitting a post and another effort being cleared off the line.

But Ludlow then faded out of the picture in a mediocre second-half showing and Cooper added:?“It was very disappointing.”

AFC host Wren’s Nest this Saturday and Cooper says there could be a new face in his squad.