MALVERN Town suffered a 4-0 defeat at Ludlow Town last Saturday and manager Neil Hunt admitted his team was second best virtually all over the pitch.

LUDLOW TOWN 4, MALVERN TOWN 0

Fifth-placed Malvern Town were expected to pick up the Midland Alliance points against lowly Ludlow Town although the Coors Stadium side have only lost one of their last six home games.

Hunt said: "We were under-strength with eight first team players missing and we were well beaten. I wouldn't say the team didn't try, they tried hard, but at the end of the day it was just a poor performance.

"Ludlow had about seven chances, we gifted them five, and they scored four goals and really it was poor defending."

Ludlow were 2-0 up at half-time with goals from Shaun Parker and Dominic Smith and then romped to a 4-0 victory with goals from Gareth Horler and Martyn Davies.

Malvern Town are at home twice over the Bank Holiday weekend with third-from-bottom Biddulph Victoria the visitors tomorrow (Saturday) and then a local derby on holiday Monday (March 28), when Westfields visit Langland Stadium. Both matches kick-off at 3pm.

Hunt said: "We have players back for the weekend including Nathan Jukes and Phil Preedy and may have Mark Shepherd available, although Roberts, Cox and Clayton are missing.

"We would like to pick up at least four points to keep us up in the top six, which is where we would like to finish."