LUDLOW Colts joint boss Mark Tonkinson admits he’s sick of getting beaten by the odd goal – but insists a bit of assistance from the officials would help his unfortunate troops.

Colts let slip a 2-1 lead to lose 3-2 at home to Herefordshire Premier Division title hopefuls Hinton on Saturday.

It was Ludlow’s fifth league defeat of the season, with four all coming by a single goal and the past three all by a 3-2 scoreline.

Colts led 2-1 through Sam Thomas and Simon Bradley when Tonkinson was convinced they should have had a penalty for a push on Jack Gittoes but Hinton went straight up the other end to equalise.

The visitors then grabbed a late winner to leave Tonkinson fuming: “I thought it was blatant and so did a few other people on that side of the pitch, but the referee didn’t.

“We felt a bit aggrieved – they went straight down the other end and scored to put us on the back foot again. If the decision had gone our way, we would have been on the front foot.

“It’s frustrating to keep losing by the odd goal but we will get there, it’s our first season in the Premier and we are a young side, I think the average age is around 22.

“We just need to manage the game better and realise we don’t have to keep going forward so much when we are ahead. We have to find the balance.”

This Saturday, Colts visit local rivals Shobdon, the side Ludlow beat to last season’s Division One title, who currently sit a point and a place below Tonkinson’s 10th-placed outfit.

Tonkinson admitted: “They will be seeking revenge and wanting to beat us after last season. It’s a local derby, it will be a good battle and it should be an interesting game.”

There was double despair for Colts last weekend as Ludlow Colts Reserves lost 4-0 at new league leaders Hinton Reserves in Division One.

Clee Hill United, meanwhile, suffered a blow in their bid to retain the Premier Division crown as they lost 2-1 at home to title rivals Malvern Town Reserves.

Ollie Smith put Hill ahead but a sluggish second half proved costly, albeit Stevie Preece hit the bar and the returning Josh Carpenter saw a penalty saved.

“It was frustrating as we should never have lost that game,” said Clee boss Wayne Whitbread.

On the bright side for Hill, previously injured first-choice strikers Carpenter and Craig Breakwell came off the bench ahead of another six-pointer at home to Holme Lacy this Saturday.

“There are still another 13 games to go and we still have to play Holme Lacy and Malvern again, so it’s all to play for,” added Whitbread.