AFC LUDLOW boss Dave Cooper has challenged his table-topping side to bank nine points from the next three home games in an important pre-Christmas run in the West Midlands (Regional)?League.

Ludlow lost for only the second time this season in going down 2-0 at second-placed Lads Club last weekend, and the Hereford side now trail AFC?by seven points with three games in hand.

AFC host close neighbours Kington Town this weekend with home games against Bustleholme and Shenstone Pathfinder on the following two Saturdays, and Cooper admits: “I want nine points from these three games and I believe we can get them.

“It’s a massive run for us, especially after Saturday’s result at Lads Club. We need to stand up and be counted again.”

Cooper admitted he got his formation wrong at the County Ground, the switch from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 failing in a poor first-half performance. AFC trailed 2-0 at the break, having gifted Lads Club two goals, snapped up by Steve Dixon on the half-hour and Dan Herbert four minutes later. Both were left unmarked to score.

Ludlow reverted to 4-3-3 for the second half and were unlucky not to respond, home goalkeeper Steve Bell producing a couple of spectacular saves to thwart Ludlow topscorer Dale Hodge, one from a header just before the hour mark and then from close-range two minutes from time.

Cooper added: “The pitch was like a quagmire and we weren’t prepared for it in lots of ways. Some of the lads even had the wrong boots for such a pitch. But it was the same for both teams and it is not an excuse.

“We got beaten up in the first half, a bit like the away game at Darlaston. We need to be able to adapt to different conditions and different pitches, but we are still a young side who are learning.

“We still have the points in the bag and we have travelled to most of the top sides. A lot of them still have to come to Ludlow.”

*DALE Hodge is expecting “some harsh treatment” from Kington Town’s travelling faithful at Saturday’s big Division One derby.

Hodge and brother Aaron became big favourites of the Mill Street fans last season as they shared 30 goals between them in helping Kington lift the Division Two title with a memorable 23-match unbeaten run.

Both left the Herefordshire outfit in the summer to rejoin Ludlow, and this weekend’s meeting sees them go head-to-head with a Kington team in decent form after a slow start to the campaign. They had won five games on the bounce before last Saturday’s 2-2 home draw with Bustleholme.

Hodge said: “I am excited to be playing against them but I expect to get a bit of harsh treatment from the travelling Kington kop. Kington are going well and haven’t lost for six games, so if we don’t turn up, they could easily turn us over.”

Ludlow are without both Jamie Edwards and Gavin Podmore but Jamie Smith should be available after missing Saturday’s defeat at Lads Club.

*LUDLOW host Telford Juniors in the quarter-finals of the TJ Vickers Premier Cup next Tuesday night (7.45pm).