A CRUEL penalty shoot-out dumped Bewdley Town out of the Worcestershire Junior Cup in the second round.

They were beaten by Midland Combination side Littleton 4-3 on spot-kicks after a 2-2 draw.

In an even first half, both defences held firm until the 40th minute when Neil Turford's 25-yarder gave Bewdley a 1-0 interval lead.

The hosts equalised early in the second half but the West Midlands South Division One outfit regained the lead with 20 minutes remaining.

Grant Gibbs' cross was headed home by Chris Bow and then the visitors felt they should have had a penalty.

Ben McCloughlan was brought down with only the keeper to beat but their appeals were turned down.

Five minutes later, Littleton converted a penalty of their own for a suspected push by Gary Middleton and the game went to score-less extra-time.

While Matt Allsopp, Middleton and Dave Harris scored their spot-kicks, Gavin Smith and Paul Field missed.

One terrific Ian Harvey save was not enough to keep them in the competition.

Fixture, Saturday: Blackheath v Bewdley Town (Smedley Crook Cup, 1.30pm, players meet at Wagon and Horses at 11.45am).