ALAN Williams netted a last gasp goal to give Ludlow a nerve-wracking 4-3 extra time win at Bishop's Castle to take them into the quarter-finals of the Shropshire Challenge Cup.

But the result was harsh on the home side who twice fought back and were just 60 seconds away from a penalty shoot-out in spite of finishing the game with just nine players.

It was Bishop's Castle who opened the scoring inside five minutes with an Aaron Dovey own goal before a brace from Ryan Lewis, including a thundering volley from 25 yards, put Ludlow ahead at the break.

Sam Naden levelled with ten minutes remaining before the match went to extra time following an extraordinary finale.

Ludlow looked as though they had snatched victory in the last minute when Naden was adjudged to have handled on the line, earning him a red card and allowing Jack Beaumont to score from the spot.

But the home side responded straight from the kick-off when the excellent Martyn Ziemann headed down for Greg Wainwright to score.

Castle had Mark Griffiths dismissed for dissent in the extra period and it was Ludlow who claimed their place in the last eight when Williams bagged his last gasp winner after a James Byatt shot had been saved.

Winning manager Luke Hicks admitted: “It was one hell of a game for the neutral.

"We didn’t perform and they played to their strengths on a poor pitch.

"But we got through and head to Coven in the next round on Saturday.

"It will be another tough cup match.”

Bishop's Castle are also in cup action this Saturday when they head to Llangedwyn, who lead Division Two of the Montgomeryshire Amateur League – the division below their visitors.