Hot favourites Market Drayton Town today blew the Shropshire Challenge Cup wide open – by withdrawing from the competition.

Drayton were due to meet Wem in the quarter-finals on Saturday, January 9, but also have a UniBond division one trip to Grantham scheduled for the same day.

Shropshire FA chiefs had negotiated Drayton’s release from UniBond League duty, on condition they would make the long trip to Grantham the following Tuesday.

But Drayton chairman Alex Mutch said today:”I have to think of the management and players and going to Grantham in midweek wasn’t a feasible option.”

“We were told we had to play in the competition by the Shropshire FA but it is not recognised by the UniBond League and there has been no commonsense or flexibility with dates. We had no option.”

It had been widely expected that, after reaching the UniBond League this season, Drayton would play in the Shropshire Senior Cup alongside Shrewsbury and AFC Telford.

But county FA officials controversially ruled they would be in the second-tier Challenge Cup.

“The disappointing thing for us is that we negotiated Drayton’s release from the UniBond League for the day,” said Shropshire FA spokesman Neil Sambrook.

“There is no problem with Wem. They just wanted to play the game on the conference date.”

Under competition rules, Drayton face a fine of up to £100 while Wem receive a bye to the last four.