CHRIS Waldron reckons youthful Ludlow should have their eyes on the top prize in next season’s West Midlands (Regional) League Division Two.

There was plenty of Christmas cheer on Saturday following a 7-2 demolition of Wolverhampton United despite dishing out a gift-wrapped opener which handed the visitors an early lead.

Kieran Dovey levelled matters with top scorer Tom Everall making the half-time team talk a bit easier by applying the finishing touch to a slick team move full of one-twos.

Everall completed his hat-trick in the second half with Jack Marsden rattling in the goal of the day, curling into the top corner from distance before Dan Griffiths and Dan Crowther rounded off the scoring.

And having walloped in 13 goals in three unbeaten matches, Waldron believes his charges can look beyond the pre-season target for a top-six finish.

“Before the season started we said we wanted to improve on last season which meant getting into the top six,” he said.

“We are fourth at the moment so I cannot grumble. It has been very good so far, I think the top two are a bit too far away but I would like to think we could still get third.

“All we can do is take each game as it comes and see where we end up.

“We will always score goals because we have good players but injuries have played a massive part for us this season.

“I have never been involved with a team that has had so many injuries in my time in football, it has been absolutely crazy.

“We had Kieran Dovey out for 10 weeks, Ryan Lewis for eight, Aaron Dovey for 10 and now Jack Davies has done his ankle and looks like being out for more than two months.

“That hasn’t helped but you can only play the cards you are dealt.

“It is a very young team as well, I would be surprised if there is a younger team than ours.

“We will only get better as time goes on and if we can keep them together, we want to be looking at challenging next season.”

On the match, Waldron added: “We went a goal down but after that kicked on and started playing.

“After half-time we steamrollered them really, we absolutely battered them.”