AFC Ludlow 11 Ellesmere Rangers Res 2

DAVE Cooper says he’s hanging up his gloves after suffering a foot injury in AFC’S Ludlow’s opening day rout.

The new boss has been given crutches and will be taking his place in the dug-out for the rest of the campaign.

“That’s it for me now – I am retiring from playing and hanging up my gloves,” said Cooper, a vastly experienced goalkeeper locally.

“I did it diving at a lad’s feet in the opening 10 minutes of the match.

I’ve been to the hospital to get it checked and there’a a shadow on my left foot.”

He added: “I am trying to find a new goalkeeper.

I have spoken to Ian Havard and it’s going to be a couple of weeks before he’s back. He’ll then have the gloves.”

Cooper was delighted with Ludlow’s emphatic home win over Ellesmere Rangers Reserves in their first match in the Mercian League Premier Division.

Nathan Hodge scored four goals in the rout and Chris Breakwell also bagged a hat-trick.

Ludlow hit seven goals in a second-half blitz.

Skipper Jamie Marsh, Danny Gower (2) and new signing Simon Bradley also hit the target for Cooper’s men.

“We played really well and had we scored 20 goals, it wouldn’t have been an unfair scoreline,”

said Cooper.

“Ellesmere are only a young side and arrived with 11 players and no subs so it was hard not to feel sorry for them.”

Cooper is worried about Ludlow’s growing injury list - they played with 10 men for the last 10 minutes.

But he quashed rumours that former Leominster Town manager Sam Bowen would be joining Ludlow.

“Bradley scored and then went off injured about a minute later and we lost Jake Pryce in the warm up.

“We played out the last 10 minutes with 10 men. We’d used all our subsitutes when Ross Vass was forced off with an injury.

“I thought we played very well and took all of the chances that came our way, but I am not getting carried away. It’s a long season.”

He added: “I did ask Sam Bowen to play for us but he wasn’t interested and there’s no truth in the rumour he’s coming here.”

AFC Ludlow are in home league action this Saturday, hosting newly- promoted Allscott