LUDLOW Town Colts have shown they have the spirit to go with their skill by repeatedly digging deep to keep their hopes of an ‘invincible’ title-winning season alive, says boss Scott Mackenzie.

Herefordshire Division One champions Colts have come from behind on several occasions in recent weeks to maintain their unbeaten 2018/19 league record.

Never has that been more the case than in the past ten days, when Ludlow have had to play four times and have conceded the first goal in three of those games.

Either side of a 4-0 win at Orleton, Ludlow twice faced second-placed Shobdon, going behind on both occasions but triumphing 4-1 away and rescuing a late point in a 1-1 home draw.

They did the same at third-placed Hinton Reserves on Saturday, salvaging another 1-1 draw that left Mackenzie lauding his side’s never-say-die attitude.

He said: “The lads have worked so hard to stay unbeaten that they just don’t want to let it slip.

“They are a good footballing bunch and not many teams can touch us but everyone we are facing wants to beat the unbeaten team.

“So these teams are putting a lot into the first half, they are giving everything but we are weathering the storm and coming back into games in the second half.

“In the first half on Thursday against Shobdon, we weren’t really in it and you could tell the lads were tired. It was a tough game but they were determined not to be beaten by our nearest rivals.

“We were very leggy on Saturday after three games in four-and-a-half days, plus missing players through injury and work commitments.

“But we dug in again and played some good football in the second half. But I will be glad to see the season finish now because it’s been a hard few weeks – one more game and we are done.”

That game is away at lowly Holme Lacy Reserves this Saturday, with Colts looking to finish the campaign undefeated.

Mackenzie added: “We are going to give it our best shot, it’s a big incentive to go there and get at least a point. It would be brilliant if we could do it, a massive achievement.”

Colts received the Division One champions shield after Thursday’s draw with Shobdon, having trailed for most of the game to a fourth-minute goal from a corner for the visitors.

A string of superb saves from keeper Kieron Roche kept Ludlow in it and they equalised seven minutes from time as Kieron Dovey scrambled home from a Dan Crowther pass.

Ludlow again fell behind at Hinton on Saturday but improved after the break and Dan Griffiths levelled, although it took a Regan Tonkinson penalty save to preserve their undefeated status.