LUDLOW FC boss Chris Waldron says he has drawn huge confidence from his side’s pre-season display against non-league giants Hereford FC.

Waldron’s troops lost 5-0 to the National League North side – who play six levels above Ludlow – in Saturday’s marquee friendly but held them at 0-0 for a long spell and created chances of their own.

Hereford’s superior fitness told in the second half but Waldron says Ludlow can take plenty of positives as they prepare for the 2019-20 West Midlands Division Two campaign.

He said: “I was absolutely chuffed to bits with the lads. They never stopped working and they kept their shape really well in the first half. I couldn’t have asked for any more.

“We have to take confidence from this week and we told the players after Saturday’s game that they should be proud of themselves.

“We only train once a week so our legs tired in the second half, and tired legs lead to tired minds so we conceded a few but overall I was delighted.”

Star of the show for Ludlow was goalkeeper Liam Griffiths who produced a string of saves to deny Jacob Jagger-Cane, Liam Bishop, Kyle Finn, Jason Pope and Martin Riley.

Waldron added: “Liam is a top lad and a great goalkeeper, and he’s still only young so he will get even better.

“He was with Hereford under-18s but they released him so he has gone straight into playing adult football with us and we are just glad to have him.”

Ludlow had chances to take an unlikely lead in the first half but King missed a free header and Chris Breakwell’s low shot was saved by the Hereford keeper after Ryan Lewis had threaded him through.

Griffiths’ sole error led to Hereford’s opener as he was caught in possession by Alex Bray, who walked the ball into an empty net on the stroke of half-time.

Hereford added further goals after the break as Bishop tucked home the rebound after Finn rattled the bar, while Kieran Thomas, Rowan Liburd and Tom Owen-Evans all produced cool finishes.

Just as important as the on-field test for Ludlow was the off-field revenue gained through a crowd of more than 400 fans at Bromfield Road.

Waldron added: “It will help with our expenses over the season. We usually have to put on a couple of fundraisers a year. Hopefully, that’s one of those down now."