LUDLOW have blown any chance of a top-three finish in West Midlands League Division Two after last weekend’s heavy defeat, believes manager Chris Waldron.

Due to injuries and unavailability, fifth-placed Ludlow could only muster 11 players for the trip to lowly Rock Rovers and were soundly beaten 7-2.

Ludlow were 7-0 down at the break before restoring some pride but Waldron believes the result has ended his side’s chances of catching some of the sides above them.

He said: “We had our goalkeeper missing plus four or five other injuries but I’m not making excuses because we were very poor.

“I never ever thought that (being 7-0 down at half-time) would happen. I just had no words. I couldn’t believe it and a few harsh words were said at half-time."

Tom Everall and Jack Marston reduced Ludlow’s deficit after the interval but Waldron admitted: “To be fair, Rock probably eased off and made it easier for us.

“It was one of those days and hopefully we won’t have another one but it was a blow.

“If we had all won all of our remaining games, we should have finished in the top three but that’s gone now.”

The loss was Ludlow’s first league match of 2019 and they are again without a game this weekend as their stop-start run continues.

Waldron added: “It’s starting to get a bit annoying. You are playing one week, then you miss the next two. They started the league too early, August 4 it was.”

Elsewhere in the division, second-placed Church Stretton’s clash with third-placed Gornal Colts was postponed, leaving Stretton five points behind leaders FC Darlaston but with three games in hand.