Ludlow Town are still searching for their first victory of the West Midland League premier division campaign after slipping to a disappointing 2-1 home reverse against Heath Town Rangers.
After an evenly balanced first half in which Ludlow twice struck the woodwork, it was Heath Town – on their first ever visit to the SBS Stadium – who broke the deadlock on 57 minutes.
From a Nathan Jones corner, Leon Pugh escaped the attentions of the defence to produce a spectacular low flying header which left stand-in keeper Ben Barnfield with no chance.
Ludlow had claims for a blatant penalty turned down when former Manchester United youngster Sean Evans was brought down in the Rangers area and his appeals resulted in a yellow card being shown.
Rangers keeper Leigh Oliver promptly sent a high ball down the middle which found Paul Harris, who beat two Town defenders and fired the ball to the right of Barnfield into the corner of the net.
Barnfield then pulled off a fantastic save to prevent goal number three when he kept out a close range header from substitute Onwerekogza Owendu.
On 77 minutes, Gareth Rhodes almost reduced the arrears for Town but his close range effort was tipped round the post by keeper Oliver.
But the hosts were back in the hunt when, with five minutes remaining, Evans fired home his third goal of the season when converting a well delivered through ball with a textbook right foot finish from close range.
However, despite their never-say-die approach, Ludlow were unable to find that all important equaliser as they went down to their second league defeat of the season.
On Tuesday evening, Ludlow’s hopes of securing their first win of the campaign were frustrated as their trip to near neighbours Bromyard Town – who beat Ledbury Town in the FA Cup over the weekend– was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Ludlow (v Heath Town): Ben Barnfield, Simon Bull, Doug Dineen, Lewis Ayres, Ryan King, Richard Wozencroft, Sean Evans, Dean Richards, Chris Breakwell, Dale Williams, Gareth Rhodes. Sub: Jamie Russell.
