HAVANT and Waterlooville will play in the Joma 2010 South West Challenge Cup final despite losing in this afternoon's semi-final at Elmore.

Goals from Lewis Neal and Tom Bradshaw gave Shrewsbury Town a 2-1 win.

But it is Havant who will meet Blackpool in tomorrow's final at the Sports Ground in Bideford.

Graham Turner, the Shrewsbury manager, withdrew his team from the tournament immediately after the final whistle.

A lengthening injury list meant they were unable to commit to two games in two days as they prepare for the Npower League Two season.

For Havant, of Blue Square South, tomorrow's match will be their fourth in five days.

They would, in any case, have been worthy winners of a semi-final watched by about 150 spectators in Tiverton.

Shrewsbury looked comfortable throughout the 90 minutes and were dangerous on the counter-attack, but Havant dominated territorially and created the better goalscoring opportunities.

They had already had two — Sam Pearce and Steve Ramsey heading over — when Neal gave Shrewsbury the lead in the 13th minute.

Steve Leslie, named man of the match, beat Pearce on the right of the area and played the ball across goal for Neal to stab in at the far post.

Havant forward Mustafa Tiryaki showed he was a clean striker of the ball on a number of occasions. His first effort, on 21 minutes, brought a fine save from Ben Smith, leaping high to his left.

A minute later, it was Havant goalkeeper Aaron Howe showing his reflexes, blocking a Bradshaw shot from point-blank range.

Havant were soon troubling the Shrewsbury defence again, though. Sammy Igoe should have done better when he was slipped in by Bobby Hopkinson, but his shot was blocked by Harry Hooman.

Jon Taylor, on the right wing, looked Shrewsbury's most dangerous player and he went close after a weaving run, putting his shot over the bar.

The game followed a similar pattern when the second half kicked off, with Shrewsbury seeming happy to soak up the Havant pressure.

In the first ten minutes, Hopkinson had a long-range shot deflected over, a neat passing move gave Igoe an opening but he could not control his shot, and Tiryaki hit another sweet strike wide.

It was not until midway through the half that Shrewsbury had their first shot. Leslie, cutting in from the right, put it well wide of the near post.

That signalled some more promising attacking moves from the Shrews.

Bradshaw should have done better on 71 minutes, but he seemed surprised when Neal's cross cleared Havant defender James Tyrrell and he put an awkward header wide.

A minute later, Neal had a glorious chance to make it 2-0, but after Taylor had done the hard work with a sprint down the touchline and superb cross, the left-winger skied his shot.

Havant stepped up the pace, hoping to force a penalty shoot-out.

Tyrrell did well to get the ball over from left and when Liam Sewell missed his kick, Tiryaki could only prod it wide.

Then, in the 90th minute, a lapse at the back presented the ball to Bradshaw 25 yards from goal and he took a neat first touch before finding the bottom corner with a skimming shot.

Havant's chance appeared to have gone, despite Tiryaki volleying in a right-wing corner in injury time.

But Turner's decision to pull his club out of the competition gave the non-leaguers a chance to test themselves against Barclays Premier League opposition.

Shrewsbury Town: Ben Smith, David Raven (Kevin McIntyre ht, Craig Disley 73), Matt Sadler, Harry Hooman, Connor Goldson, Shane Cansdell Sherriff, Jon Taylor, Danny Taylor, Tom Bradshaw, Steve Leslie, Lewis Neal. Subs not used: Hakan Duyan, John Trewick.

Havant Waterlooville: Aaron Howe, Jake Newton, Jon McDonald, Paul Hinshelwood, Sam Pearce (James Tyrrell 68), Ian Simpemba, Sammy Igoe (Liam Sewell 79), Bobby Hopkinson, Steve Ramsey (Ben Johnson 71), Mustafa Tiryaki, Craig Robson. Sub not used: Nathan Ashmore.

● See www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk tomorrow evening for a report on the final.