SOUTH SHIELDS, England (Interstat) — In a stunning Women’s FA Cup upset that defied all statistical projections, Shrewsbury Town W routed South Shields FC 3-1 on Sunday at 1st Cloud Arena.

The visiting Shrewsbury Town side, which entered the match as a significant underdog, delivered a comprehensive performance to advance in the competition. The result was a dramatic reversal of fortune from pregame forecasts, which heavily favored the home team.

Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a lopsided 4-0 victory for South Shields FC, while its ELO rating system gave the hosts a 55 percent probability of winning. Shrewsbury Town W dismantled those expectations with a commanding display, scoring twice in the first half and adding a decisive third after the break.

The breakthrough came in the 34th minute from substitute Anthony Scully, who gave the visitors a lead they would not relinquish. Shrewsbury Town W doubled its advantage just before halftime when another substitute, Thomas Sang, found the net in the 44th minute, sending the away side into the break with a commanding 2-0 lead.

Any hope of a second-half comeback from South Shields FC was extinguished in the 67th minute. Defender Luke Woolston scored Shrewsbury Town W’s third goal, sealing the emphatic victory. South Shields FC managed a lone consolation goal late in the match, but it was not enough to shift the momentum.

The match was a physical affair, reflected in the six yellow cards issued by the officiating crew. South Shields FC’s John Marquis was booked in the 41st minute, followed by a caution for teammate Dillon Morse in first-half stoppage time. Shrewsbury Town W also saw two players enter the book, with Tommy McDermott and David Carson receiving yellow cards in quick succession in the 70th and 71st minutes, respectively.

The victory marks a perfect start to the Women’s FA Cup campaign for Shrewsbury Town W, which improved its record in the competition to 1 win and 0 losses. The loss sends South Shields FC to an 0-1 start in the tournament. The records for both teams across all competitions now mirror their cup fortunes.

With the win, Shrewsbury Town W progresses to the next round of the Women’s FA Cup, while South Shields FC is eliminated from the competition.