HAUNTING memories will ensure in-form Ludlow FC do not go into Saturday’s trip to the West Midlands League’s bottom side counting their chickens, insists boss Chris Waldron.

Ludlow climbed to third in Division Two, level on points with second-placed local rivals Church Stretton, thanks to last weekend’s 4-2 home win over Newport Town.

Waldron’s men are one of six teams in with a realistic chance of taking the runners-up spot behind leaders AFC Bentley and, on paper, have an inviting fixture at AFC Bridgnorth Development up next.

Bridgnorth are rooted to the foot of the table, with just five points from 13 games, but Waldron insisted: “We will be taking nothing for granted.

“In past seasons, we’ve gone to Bridgnorth and drawn even though they have been down at the bottom and they beat us once too. It’s a tricky pitch to play on.”

Ludlow came from 1-0 down at half-time to beat promotion rivals Newport last Saturday with a Tom Everall double and goals from Jack Marston and Dan Griffiths.

“In the second half we really turned it on,” added Waldron. “The lads were superb and Newport couldn’t get near us. We played them off the park.”

Waldron admitted he will have an eye on Stretton’s trip to Warstones Wanderers, who are seventh but only five points behind second with four games in hand.

“Warstones have a lot of games in hand and if they win them, there’s not much we can do. So we just have to keep winning,” he conceded.

Neither of those sides have played since February 8 and Stretton boss Scott Peever groaned: “We’ve only played six games since the first week in November.

“It’s been extremely frustrating especially on the back of a poor result in our last game (defeat at struggling Worcester Raiders) – we have had to wait for the next opportunity to put it right."