CHURCH STRETTON boss Paul Smith says his side must improve considerably if they are to avoid scrapping at the bottom of the West Midlands (Regional) League Division Two.

Stretton, coming off their 1-1 derby draw at Ludlow, put in a poor performance on Saturday as they were well beaten at home by Market Drayton Town Reserves.

Dean Richards scored a penalty ten minutes from time for Smith’s men but it proved to be just a consolation as they went down 4-1.

“We were awful,” Smith said. “Considering how pumped up we were for the Ludlow game, we just seemed really flat.

“We were missing three or four players and the pitch was boggy but we were very poor.

“There were two goalkeeper errors in the first half and we didn’t look like scoring.

“We struggle when we go behind and that’s been a constant theme this season.”

Stretton travel to AFC Bridgnorth Development this Saturday expecting to claim three points at the division’s basement club.

“Bridgnorth are bottom of the league but we need to turn up and do a job against them,” Smith added.

“They’ll be pushing for a result because they haven’t won this season and nobody wants to be the first team to lose to them.

“If we can win that, and then beat Oldbury, we can really consolidate our position in the league.”

Ludlow beat Bridgnorth 5-2 last Wednesday but their league fixture at FC Darlaston on Saturday was postponed.

Luke Hicks’ side return to action on Saturday when they travel to Bishop’s Castle in the Shropshire Challenge Cup.

Elsewhere, goals from Craig Breakwell and Liam Whitbread weren’t enough for Clee Hill United as they lost 3-2 at Oakengates Athletic in the Mercian Regional League Premier.

In Division One, Brown Clee were narrowly defeated 2-1 by leaders St Martins Village.

Newcastle’s Emrys Morgan Cup fixture at Caersws Reserves was beaten by the weather.