BOSS Christian Leech was left with mixed emotions after Ludlow Colts were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Wellington.

Scott Guilbert had a penalty saved and the hosts had shots cleared off the line on a day which saw Sol Barker ruled out for up to six weeks with a knee injury.

But with Wellington had also hitting the crossbar during a tense battle, Leech declared himself content with the way Ludlow fought for their first league clean sheet of the season and a share of the spoils in spite of being fresh out of fortune.

“Overall I was a bit disappointed with the result,” he said. “We had enough chances to claim all three points but this was a game we would probably have lost earlier in the season due to our naivety.

“It seemed to be one of those days. We created more chances, had crosses cleared off the line and shots drop just wide of the post.

“The boys are working hard and listening in training but they also need to be more clinical, especially when you remember we’re playing the leaders (Tenbury Town) on Saturday.”

Ludlow, without the services of Jack Francis, Charlie Gould, Kieran Edwards and Haji Mbaraka, struggled to settle at first with Wellington pressing well and forcing the hosts to play a series of long balls which were comfortably dealt with.

Top marksman Dan Crowther, who ploughed a lone furrow up front, dragged wide a couple of efforts and Leech’s men gradually settled with Tom Griffiths and Ashley Smith coming into the game more.

Olly Boulton’s foul resulted in Wellington’s best chance of the match with keeper Kieron Roche saving the rebound at point-blank range after the initial free-kick had bounced back off the crossbar.

A handball in the penalty area gave Ludlow the opportunity they had been looking for but Guilbert’s effort from 12 yards was repelled by Roche’s opposite number.

The home side continued to play with confidence and despite Barker being carried from the field of play, they continued on the front foot.

The returning Adrian Marsh slipped through Josh Partridge to be denied one-on-one by the keeper and in the end, the stalemate provided a fair result.

On Barker’s injury, Leech added: "It is disappointing because it looks like we will lose Sol for a little while, probably four to six weeks. We’re hopeful it's just a knock with no serious damage and will know more this week after he has it X-rayed.

“It's been a tough few weeks with Charlie Gould recovering from an ankle injury, Will McNinch being out for a few months after suffering a head injury away from football and losing Haji Mbaraka, who has gone back to Tanzania for the rest of the season, but we will keep plugging away.”

Ludlow remain in the thick of a tight battle in Herefordshire Division One, sitting eighth as part of a cluster of 10 teams in the 13-strong league that are separated by just six points.