‘NEARLY there but not quite’ – Ludlow FC boss Chris Waldron admits that has been the story of his side’s season after agonisingly missing out on a cup final date to round off the campaign.

Ludlow lost 5-3 at league champions Gornal Colts in the West Midlands Division Two League Cup semi-final on Saturday, undone by two late penalties.

They had fought back from 2-0 down to level at 3-3 through a Kieran Dovey double and a Connor Davies-Austin effort.

But Waldron was left to reflect on a free header missed by James Byatt and two one-on-one chances spurned by Jack Marston with the score at 3-3.

He said: “The goals that we gave away were so poor which was the frustrating thing and then at 3-3 we have had three really good chances when Gornal were all over the shop.

“We had chances to go on and win the game but we couldn’t do it and it’s the story of the season – we’re nearly there but not quite.

“We have played Gornal three times this season and probably shouldn’t have lost any but that’s why they are champions and we’re not.

“But we’ve improved on last season – we’ve finished fifth and made two cup semi-finals so we are going in the right direction.”