LUDLOW manager Chris Waldron had no complaints after seeing his side beaten by a ‘bigger and stronger’ Church Stretton team in last weekend’s derby.

Waldron’s men had opened the West Midlands League Division Two season in fine fashion with a 4-0 win over Telford Juniors but found last season’s runners-up Stretton a much tougher nut to crack.

Goals from Dan Griffiths and Ryan Lewis restored some pride for Ludlow from 4-0 down but they were still beaten 5-2.

Waldron said: “Stretton fully deserved their win. They were too big and too strong for us and they will be up there again competing for the league title, without doubt.

“We have a very young side whereas they have got some experienced players – footballing-wise, there was nothing in it but their physicality was just too much for us.

“We had one player over 30, two 20-somethings and the rest were teenagers but they will learn, we will get there.

“We were also missing centre-half Matt Good, who is a big physical presence for us. He should be back this weekend, which will hopefully give us a boost.”

Things do not get any easier for Ludlow this Saturday, though, as they visit a Newport Town side who have won both of their opening games and who finished mid-table in the league above last season.

Newport were demoted due to ground issues and Waldron expects them to vie with Stretton for the title.

He added: “Going off what happened in pre-season and from talking to people, Newport and Stretton are going to be the two teams to beat.

“So it’s another tough one for us and we will have a few players missing but that’s football at this level."