JOINT Ludlow Town Colts manager Mark Tonkinson believes his target of a top-five finish in his side’s maiden Herefordshire Premier season is fully achievable now they have found their scoring boots.

Colts thrashed Fownhope 5-0 on Saturday to make it 21 goals in their past five games, shaking off a shot-shy start in which the Division One champions scored just five in their first four.

Town are 10th but have games in hand on virtually every side above them.

“The top five was the aim at the start of the season,” said Tonkinson. “And if we can get a run of games, I’m confident we will start climbing the table.

“We had lots of new lads in the summer and I knew it was going to take games to bed everybody in but we never had those games because of the weather.

“What let the lads down in the first few games is that we were losing by the odd goal – we weren’t getting beat heavily, we just missed a lot of chances. Now, we are starting to put them away.”

Ludlow dominated throughout as Morgan Millard – returning from injury – hit the bar before opening the scoring with a volley from a corner.

Chris Breakwell twice struck the woodwork before Kieron Hollis doubled the lead with a goal in his first game back since November.

Jabez Smith, Andrew Pugh and Dan Crowther added second-half goals and Tonkinson beamed: “It was a first clean sheet of the season, which was especially pleasing.”

Colts will be without keeper Regan Tonkinson for Saturday’s game at home to Hinton as he has been called up by Ludlow’s first team in West Midlands Division Two.

Another side without a keeper are leaders Clee Hill United after stopper Kieron Roche’s knee injury flared up again in the 2-1 win over Wellington Reserves.

Craig Shorter can step in for the six-pointer at home to title rivals Malvern Town Reserves but injury problems are mounting for Hill with first-choice strikers Josh Carpenter and Craig Breakwell still out.

Ryan Clarke and Ollie Smith netted in the win for Hill, whose boss Wayne Whitbread admitted: “We are really down to the bare bones at the minute.

“It might just be a case of trying not to lose against Malvern and then Holme Lacy the week after – if we can just muck through and get something out of those games, I will be very happy.”

In Division One, leaders Tenbury United’s game at home to Hereford City was rained off but Ludlow Colts Reserves thumped Dore Valley 7-2 away to go third.

Tom Swinbourne, a James Byatt brace, Scott Guilbert, volleys from Jack Mear and Josh Williams, plus an own goal, gave Colts – who visit second-placed Hinton Reserves on Saturday – an emphatic win.