KEANU Cooper struck a hat-trick for Ludlow but it wasn’t enough to stop his side losing out to neighbours Rock Rovers in a ten-goal thriller.

The visitors ran out 6-4 winners with Ludlow boss Luke Hicks admitting his players still have plenty to learn in their first season in Division Two of the West Midlands League.

“It’s all very good playing pretty football but you have to make sure you are winning games,” the manager said.

“Every manager I speak to says we are one of the best footballing sides but we just aren’t putting in the hard yards at times.

“We were the better side against Rock but they had six chances and put them all away.

"That was the difference.

"They have experienced players who know how to win a game.”

It was Cooper who opened the scoring inside five minutes but Ludlow were unable to add to their tally in spite of creating further chances in the opening 20 minutes.

Rovers then levelled against the run of the play and proceeded to add three more goals before half-time.

“We were fantastic with the ball but absolutely rubbish without out,” Hicks added.

"We didn’t match their workrate in the first half and I went ballistic at half-time.

"To be fair I couldn’t fault their efforts in the second half.”

Cooper completed his hat-trick to haul the home side back into the game but the damage was already done and even though Josh Partridge bagged a fourth goal for Ludlow, it was Rock who ran out winners.

Shropshire League side Brown Clee are next up for Hicks’ side on November 4 in the Shropshire Challenge Cup.

Church Stretton had a much better day as they produced some sparkling football to win their match 8-0 mid-table AFC Broseley.

The visitors dominated throughout, scoring four goals in each half.

Leading marksman Dean Richards led the way with four goals to take his tally to the season to nine while there was a perfect hat-trick for Arron Hodge as he netted with left foot, right foot and head.

Arron Gough completed the scoresheet.

Stretton were due to take on Market Drayton Reserves in a cup match last night [Wednesday] before playing host to league leaders Sikh Hunters on Saturday.