A DEBUT goal from Jake Young was not enough to stop Shawbury United from slipping to their first defeat of the season in the West Midlands League Premier Division, losing 2-1 at Littleton.

But there was controversy surrounding the home side’s two late strikes, the goals coming in the final seven minutes.

Manager Declan Allen questioned the two refereeing decisions that led to the Worcestershire side’s goals - from a penalty and free-kick - and thought his players deserved something from the game particularly after a good first half display.

He said: “It was a disappointing end and I think we’ve been undone by two questionable decisions.

“However we weren’t really at the races in the second half. In the first half I thought we were superb, created opportunities and dragged them out of their shape. Second half we never came out the blocks and I think it probably was a game of two halves and a point would have been fair.”

Shawbury’s goal was an excellent strike from Young - a volley from just inside the area - and the visitors could have stretched their lead just before half-time when both Tom Hughes and Charlie Warren had efforts scrambled off the line.

But it was a different story in the second period with Dean Fisher and Alfie Bloomer forcing visiting keeper JJ Acton into smart saves before another effort was cleared off the line.

It looked as though the hosts had been kept out but with seven minutes to go, what seemed like a collision between two players prompted the referee to point to the spot and former Stourbridge midfielder Ben Billingham duly levelled the scores.

Shawbury were still reeling from that when, in injury time, Littleton were harshly awarded a free-kick just outside the area and Billingham curled his effort beyond Acton to secure all three points.