LUDLOW comfortably secured the victory they needed to guarantee promotion but coach Norman Stalker restricted his joy to a hearty well done.

The long-time leaders triumphed 58-5 over relegated derby rivals Clee Hill to seal their elevation from Midlands Three West (North) on Saturday.

Will Sparrow and 19-year-old Tom Amphlett, who made his full debut, each grabbed hat-tricks, with Mark Williams (2), Sam Thomas and Mike Jones also on the score sheet.

Ludlow now require a single point from their top-two showdown at Cleobury – who also confirmed promotion at the weekend by winning at Harborne while third-placed Burntwood lost at Uttoxeter – to seal the title on Saturday week.

“Promotion was our goal for the season so it was job done,” said Stalker.

“I think we performed well enough across the campaign but it was nice to round it off with a very good win at home on President’s Day.

“I can say it now it has happened but I expected to go up in July. I thought we had progressed enough over pre-season and when we won so well against Cleobury on the opening day there was not much doubt in my mind.

“It is more a sense of satisfaction rather than relief or jubilation even. I felt we would do it and now we have it becomes easier to say I thought we would all along.

“I always felt it would be us and Cleobury but Burntwood gave us a bit of a surprise having gone so badly the previous season.

“It has been a really good battle in that sense. When I look at the table and see we have won 18 games and scored more than 900 points, yet it came down to the second-to-last game of the season. That is some competition.

“Burntwood must be gutted. They had one more slip and it cost them but this has been a great season for the league.

“Sometimes you get a dominant side that goes unbeaten throughout but we have had three teams who have been pretty close to that all year.

“Uttoxeter have been pretty good at upsetting the table. They beat us earlier in the season and now it makes our game against Cleobury interesting but both teams will be able to celebrate.”

While seeing off Cleobury’s efforts to steal the crown would be preferable, Stalker was adamant the outcome would not sour the mood.

“We beat them very well at the start of the season so we know it is there for us but in the bigger picture, we’re up and nothing changes that,” he added.

“A win would properly round it off but we are in the fortunate position of not having to beat them. They have to get the whole package.

“We know what we need to do but we got what we wanted and everything else now would be a bonus.

“It is about local kudos and the guys don’t want to come second after doing so well. Their personal motivation is massive.”