LUDLOW banished any lingering relegation fears with a 6-2 success at Stafford.

The hosts poured forward during the opening exchanges but were forced to come from behind having been caught by a sucker punch on the break.

A long ball from Gavin Hughes led to a swift response, though, with top scorer James Pratt the man on the spot to lash home the leveller. From there, it was all Ludlow as a smart one-two from a penalty corner rounded off by Stuart Richards before Andrew Richards made it 3-1 at the interval. Lawrence Richards got in on the act with Hughes grabbing the goal his tenacious display had deserved. Stafford netted a consolation but Pratt fittingly had the last laugh late on.

Cameron Hillhouse and Mark Sandell scored as Ludlow Fathom drew 2-2 on an unfamiliar grass surface at Bridgnorth. Kevin Williams was man of the match on his only outing for the club this season.