Women's Football: Shrewsbury Town branded 'unlucky' after FA Cup exit

Boss Dean Craven bemoaned Shrewsbury Town Women’s luck after they went out of the FA Cup.

Shrewsbury were beaten 4-1 at Leafield Athletic in the final qualifying round but the scoreline did not tell the full story.

The visitors stunned their higher-ranked hosts when Zoe Dunn opened the scoring and Craven then thought his team should have been awarded a penalty.

Leafield struck twice late in the opening half and then powered to victory after the break.

Craven said: “The first half was absolutely brilliant. We shouldn’t have been going in 2-1 down.

“I am not here to moan about referees but there are key moments in games.

“It is a blatant handball in the box. If we go 2-0 up it is a different game.

“If we play like that first half all season, you will never get a moan from me.

“We had a great chance of going through but sometimes you don’t get the luck.”

Shifnal Town bounced back from their first defeat of the season in emphatic fashion as they won 6-3 at Stourbridge in the West Midlands Premier.

The visitors were trailing 1-0 at the break before being sparked to life by two goals from Jenna Boddison early in the second half.

Skipper Rebecca Lee Bown then scored a quickfire brace to put Shifnal in firm control, with further goals coming from Lacey Mae Cooke and Abby White.

AFC Telford United had a day to forget in Division One North as they were beaten 3-0 at home by Lane Head Women.

Beaming boss Kieran Lee-Birch felt like he had “won the lottery” after The New Saints stunned Wrexham to continue their perfect start to the Adran Welsh Premier League season.

Fiona Barry’s last-gasp goal snatched a 3-2 victory and saw TNS set a new club record of five straight wins to start the campaign.

“I don’t know what to think. I am just so excited. I feel like I have won the lottery,” said Lee-Birch.

“I don’t have anything to say other than I am so proud.”

In the Shropshire Premier, Allscott Heath were brought crashing down to earth by a 9-1 defeat at home to Ellesmere Rangers.

The visitors replaced the home side at the top of the standings.

Elsewhere, Dawley Town won 16-0 at home to Ercall Colts but Albrighton drew a blank as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Worthen Juniors.

Shropshire Lionesses won 6-1 at Wem Town, while Newport Girls battled back to draw 3-3 with Market Drayton.