WOOFFERTON manager Malcolm Barnard praised striker Dan Gower who played through the pain barrier to help the Blues to a 6-0 win at Herefordshire League Division One strugglers Ludlow Town Colts.

The frontman bagged four goals to take his season’s tally to 13 and lift him to the top of the league’s goalscoring table.

“Dan said before the game that his back was really hurting and he had treatment for it,” Barnard explained.

“But he played through the pain barrier and scored some marvellous goals.”

Three goals from Gower and one from Dean Harding put the Blues in control going in at the break but Ludlow’s cause was not helped after the influential Toby Siveter picked up a serious knee injury following a nasty looking challenge.

Woofferton added to the home side’s woes when some quick thinking from Si Bradley resulted in a goal from a free-kick, the Blues set-piece specialist spotting keeper Kieron Roche off his line allowing him to steer the ball into the net.

It was Gower who completed the scoring with his fourth goal of the game, turning a defender before powering his shot past the Colts keeper.

Barnard added: “It was great for us to keep a clean sheet for the first time and the lads put on a good display.

“Holme Lacy Reserves next week is going to be a tough match, I want the same effort from the team."

Ludlow boss Christian Leech admitted he was disappointed with the challenge on Siveter, adding that it looked as though the striker would be ruled out for quite a while.

“We changed a few things in the second half and firmed things up a bit but never looked like creating anything,” he said

“It was a disappointing day all round with the result, attitude and losing Toby for a long time.”