A SPLASH of experience among the exuberance of youth has been behind Ludlow Town Colts’ superb second half of the season, believes joint manager Christian Leech.

Colts continued their fantastic 2018 form with a pair of 4-1 victories over Ledbury Town Reserves and Orleton Colts Reserves over the past week.

Those wins ensured a top-five finish for a side that was struggling to pick up points early on in the Herefordshire League Division One campaign.

Leech pinpointed the arrivals of experienced duo David Humphries and Mark Tomkinson as key to the turnaround.

And he also hailed the impact of dual-signed Keanu Cooper of Shawbury and recent signing Ryan Lewis, who scored hat-tricks in the wins over Ledbury and Orleton.

Leech said: “The spine of our team has improved now. And the younger lads can work off it.

“We didn’t win in our first six or seven games and we were just missing that bit of experience to carry us over the line.

“Keanu gives us that extra bit of quality, while David and Mark have steered the young ones who need guiding through things.

“Since we’ve got them on board, we haven’t really lost a game.

“And now we’ve got Ryan Lewis, who was playing for Ludlow FC at the start of the season.

“Since he’s been with us, he’s had two hat-tricks in two games and has given us that extra element up front. He’s been outstanding.

“We would like to try to keep them for next season.

“But we are trying to stick to our philosophy – we’ve set up the Colts because there’s a really good youth set-up at the club and it’s about how we can bring them through and introduce them into men’s football.

“It’s not all about winning the league, it’s about seeing an improvement in the players and as long as we can see we are going in the right direction, we know we are doing the right things.

“If we finish fourth or fifth, we are happy because we can see the progression and that’s all we want.

“We want to try to push and get ourselves into the Hereford Prem which would be an even bigger challenge.”

Ludlow were too hot for local rivals Orleton to handle last Thursday.

Lewis pounced on a Cooper through ball to put them ahead on seven minutes before turning provider for top scorer Dan Griffiths to drive home the second from the edge of the box.

Scott Guilbert’s defence-splitting pass set up Lewis to make it 3-0 before the break and he reacted to a loose ball to complete his hat-trick in the second half. Orleton netted a late consolation.

On Saturday, Colts again won 4-1 at Ledbury as Lewis put them ahead and then set up Griffiths for the second.

A cracking Lewis volley made it 3-0 at half-time and he completed his hat-trick late on after Ledbury had pulled one back and Humphries had missed a penalty for Ludlow.