NEWENT Town's youthful cup squad could not prevent a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Ludlow Town on Saturday as their Hellenic League Supplementary Challenge Cup hopes ended.

The Daffs called up five under-18 pathway players, Tyreese, Deondre, Riley, Nat and Rhys, for the home tie, a significant step for the club's efforts to bring youth players into senior football.

Nat Gourlay had made his first-team debut the previous week, while Deondre Edmund was another to get his chance, coming off the bench in the second half in place of Gourlay.

Newent started brightly enough to force a couple of early corners, but neither produced the opener and Ludlow punished them in the 28th minute.

Jack Marston put the visitors ahead with what Newent described as a simple tap-in, leaving the Daffs trailing 1-0 at the break.

The hosts pushed for an equaliser after the interval, with the one-goal deficit keeping the cup tie alive deep into the second half.

But just as Newent were pressing to level, they were caught at the other end. Charlie Edwards struck in the 70th minute to double Ludlow's advantage and leave the home side with a mountain to climb.

Nathan Weale added a third on 80 minutes to put the result beyond doubt and bring Newent's cup hopes to an abrupt end.

The defeat was another setback during a difficult spell for the Daffs, who had lost 1-0 to Chipping Sodbury Town the previous weekend and were still seeking a permanent first-team manager.

They had also exited the Floodlit Cup after a 2-0 defeat by Redditch Borough on Tuesday, adding to a particularly testing week.

Yet the opportunity afforded to five young players offered something tangible from an otherwise disappointing afternoon, with the pathway continuing to connect the club's under-18s to first-team football.