‘A SUPER Saturday’ awaits Ludlow and Church Stretton in the West Midlands League Division Two promotion race as the top four sides go head-to-head.

Second-placed Stretton host title favourites AFC Bentley – nine points clear at the top – while fourth-placed Ludlow visit Coven Athletic, in third.

With the winter weather shortening the league season – the planned three fixtures against each side reduced back to the traditional two – only a handful of games remain.

That heightens the importance of Saturday’s games as Ludlow visit a Coven side they thrashed 7-2 three weeks ago.

Boss Chris Waldron said: “I think Coven will be a lot stronger at home than they were at our place but we just need to do what we do.

“Only five points separates second to seventh so you can’t afford to drop points which makes it a massive game on Saturday – if we have aspirations to finish second, it’s a must-win game.”

Stretton boss Scott Peever, meanwhile, said: “I think the league title has gone after Saturday’s loss but we are still in the mix for second.

“The game is probably a bit of a free hit for us as I think Bentley will go on to win the league so we will try to have go at them and turn them over.”

Both sides suffered far-from-ideal results last weekend – Stretton lost 2-1 at lowly Worcester Raiders Reserves while Ludlow drew 2-2 at Walsall Town Swifts.

Owen Holdsworth and Kieran Dovey netted for Ludlow, while Sean Evans and Ryan Clarke hit the woodwork and boss Waldron groaned: “We should have won, we had so many chances.

“But when you are 2-0 down and come back it’s always pleasing – we never gave up. However it’s definitely a case of two points dropped, not one gained.”

Stretton, meanwhile, led through a Tom Carter rocket at Worcester but Peever was unhappy they travelled with no substitutes.

“It was a really poor performance and we got what we deserved – nothing,” he fumed. “Preparation was from ideal as we went there with the bare 11 and I had to play myself.

“One or two let us down questionably late on – it’s disappointing because we are still in with a shout of the league and still in the county cup.

“So there are things to play for. When you are up there pushing, you expect people to be up for it.”