AFC LUDLOW are setting the early pace at the head of the West Midlands (Regional) League Division One table.

But boss Dave Cooper says there is still plenty more to come from his side, despite them being the only First Division outfit to bank maximum points from their opening two fixtures.

Ludlow followed their hard-fought 2-1 opening-day success at Shenstone Pathfinder by walloping Wem Town 5-0 at the Ludlow Football Stadium last Saturday - but a demanding Cooper insists they were nowhere near their best.

The Ludlow manager said: “The scoreline flattered us and I feel we played better the previous week in winning at Shenstone.

“But to not play that well and still score five goals, and to keep a clean sheet, I have to be happy with that, even though I wasn’t totally happy with the overall performance.

“I know this side can perform so much better and we face a really tough test against Shifnal Town at Ludlow this coming weekend.”

Former skipper Jamie Marsh, who travelled back from Doncaster to play, headed Ludlow ahead from Aaron Dovey’s clipped cross and two more goals followed in quick succession with a Danny Gower volley and a third from Dale Hodge to put the home side in control.

Keanu Cooper missed a couple of one-on-ones before being substituted midway through the second half following a general melee caused by his retaliation to a rugby tackle from a Wem defender.

Wem hit the bar and post but it was Ludlow who added to their tally in the second period, Gower grabbing his second and Jason Wellings then working his socks off to claim goal number five.

Substitute Ryan Lewis, who replaced Cooper for the last 25 minutes, again made a good impression but Ludlow’s Man of the Match was Jamie Hammonds, who pulled all the strings in midfield.

Shifnal, relegated from the Premier Division at the end of last season, beat Trysull 2-1 in their opening game and then drew 0-0 at Wrens Nest last weekend.

Marsh, who is expected to figure regularly this season, despite living in South Yorkshire, is unavailable on Saturday and it looks likely that Jamie Smith could come in for his first league game of the campaign. He injured an ankle in the final pre-season game at Clee Hill.

AFC Ludlow: Havard, Beaumont, A Hodge, Hicks, A Dovey, Hammonds, Marsh (Crowther 66), D Hodge, Cooper (Lewis 65), Gower (Everall 75), Wellings.