Telford Juniors 3 Ludlow Town 2

A CONTROVERSIAL last minute penalty sentenced Town to an agonising defeat in the Sportsjamkits.com Shropshire County Premier Division.

It was heart-breaking for Town, who had earlier taken a two-goal lead.

Earlier in the game, Ludlow had benefited from a soft penalty award themselves.

Danny Gower was adjudged to have been pushed, and then got up to convert the spot kick and put Town ahead.

Gower went on to score a second goal, when he converted a Danny Crowther cross.

Telford hit back to level the score.

Their first was a lucky effort off a player’s knee and the second a free-kick from the edge of the box.

The game appeared to be heading for a draw until disaster struck for Town.

Church Stretton were pushing for an equaliser when Newport Town broke away to secure a 4-2 win in the closing minutes of a game where Stretton’s depleted squad battled bravely.

The late arrival of a number of players upset their preparations and they were two goals down inside 15 minutes.

Injuries to Ryan King and Joe Leaske, rather than ending their hopes, seemed to galvanise Stretton’s performance.

Luke Davies was brought down and then got up to convert the resultant penalty himself before the break.

Newport restored their two goal advantage when they converted a penalty.

Davies dragged his side back into the contest when he fired home his second goal.

Newport wrapped up the win with a breakaway goal.