LUDLOW FC joint manager Christian Leech says the club are reaping the benefits of a youth team policy so successful the firsts have a younger squad than their Colts feeder side.

With Ludlow in Shropshire FA Challenge Cup action this weekend, Leech says the aim is to bulk out the fixture list with as many competitive games as possible, to continue the learning curve of his young charges.

“Our home record this year hasn’t been very good,” said the joint boss in the wake of Saturday’s 4-0 win at home to AFC Bentley. “But the win on Saturday hopefully lifts confidence and they can give a good account of themselves this weekend and get a good cup run. With there not being so many teams in the league this season, the more cup games we can get in, the better it is for the young lads, and for the rest of the players.”

Ludlow - whose win against Bentley sees them fifth in Division Two of the West Midlands Regional League - on Saturday host Shropshire Premier League strugglers St Martins Village FC.

Leech’s Joint manager Chris Waldron is aware that the visitors dumped Bridgnorth out of this season’s competition but says his side go into the game in good form.

“The performance was the best we’ve played this season,” said Waldron, of Saturday’s win, “if we had won eight, nine or 10-0 it wouldn’t have been a travesty.”

Ludlow could have gone into the break a goal down despite dominating proceedings, after goalkeeper Liam Griffiths rushed off his line one-on-one just before the break to concede a penalty. With the referee opting against a red card, Griffiths saved the resulting spot-kick and Ludlow cut loose in the second half, with a Tom Everall brace and goals from Jack Davies and Rhys Williams.