Women's football round-up: AFC triumph over Town in Telford derby
AFC Telford United are through to the third round of the Tom Farmer Shropshire Women's Challenge Cup after a 3-0 derby triumph at Telford Town, writes Dan Hickey.
Town held strong for the first half, but Romilie Evans opened the scoring for the visitors on 57 minutes, before late goals from Sasha Woodhouse and Olivia Bellamy sealed the win.
Telford will be hoping to go all the way after title-holders Shrewsbury Town were knocked out on penalties by Whitchurch Alport.
Alport took the lead after an hour through substitute Bethany Cooke, which was quickly levelled by Shrewsbury’s Madison Jones five minutes later.
The shootout could not have gone better for Whitchurch, as Shrewsbury went first but proceeded to miss all of their penalties, while Whitchurch scored all three to progress.
Alport keeper Caitlyn Smith shone during the match, before making two crucial saves in the shootout and scoring the underdogs’ winning penalty to send them through to the third round.
Having already won 3-0 and 6-0 in their previous meetings this season, Shropshire League Premier Division title favourites Shrewsbury Up & Comers are also through to the county cup’s third round after dispatching Prees Club United 9-0.
Up & Comers were 5-0 up at half time thanks to Katie White (two), Jessie Jex, Chloe Cross and Ellie Burns, before Burns and Jex added to their tallies in the second half. Substitute Millie Booth sealed off the win with a late brace.
Bridgnorth Spartans were dumped out of the competition 4-0 by league rivals Worthen Juniors, as Mollie Lenc (two), Charlotte Jones and Ruby Corfield all netted to send their side through.
Daisy Murray scored as Newport Girls progressed with a 1-0 away win at Allscott Heath Development, while Allscott’s first team knocked out Ludlow Town 3-1 in their shootout after a 1-1 draw.
Chelsea Simpson scored for the victors, as Ludlow’s Abigail Mills also netted.
The New Saints progressed to the semi-finals of the Women’s Welsh Cup after defeating Briton Ferry Llansawel in a shootout after a 2-2 draw.
Saints led twice as Olivia Buckland and Molly Havard took the lead on 20 and 63 minutes, however a late Llansawel equaliser took the game to penalties.
Keeper Rebecca Elliott denied the hosts twice in the shootout as TNS’s cup journey continues.
They will face one of Wrexham, Cardiff City or Pontypridd United in the next round.
Albrighton lost 4-2 at home to Port Vale Reserves in the Staffordshire Girls & Ladies League Cup, despite going into the break in front thanks to goals from Chloe Ellis and Dami Onafowokan.
Shawbury United closed the gap to second to just three points after beating eighth-placed Dawley Town Lionesses 5-3.
United took the lead through Kaitlin Brookes, before Dawley’s Jess Lawson equalised on 47 minutes.
Brookes scored a second to retake the lead, which was quickly doubled by Olivia Holt. Dawley fought back with goals from Claire Bass and Grace Whiston, but Shawbury kept ahead thanks to scorers Kemi Gordon and Kelly-Anne Gordon.
