LUDLOW Hockey Club’s men were left cursing their inability to finish in an early season title match-up at home to Market Drayton at the weekend.

Going into the game in a three-way tie at the summit of West Midlands One, the hosts were put on the back foot by a controversial penalty stroke decision awarded against them, and eventually sank to a damaging 3-0 defeat which leaves them no room for error if they are to stay in the hunt.

“We controlled the majority of the game,” said first-team captain Gavin Hughes, “they just had an unfairly awarded penalty stroke and two goals which we shouldn’t have let them score. We had plenty of chances to score but we just couldn’t get the ball in the net.”

Victory lifted Market Drayton joint top along with Stourport seconds, who saw off Aldridge & Walsall 3-1 at the weekend.

Ludlow will fancy their chances of bouncing back on Saturday though, with a trip to face a West Bromwich side who sit second from bottom, having lost five of their six matches so far.