ANDONI Iraola described as “really strange” Cherries women not achieving promotion, despite going through their entire league campaign unbeaten.

Steve Cuss’s Cherries won 19 and drew three of their 22 National League Division One South West matches, but missed out on the league title by two points.

Exeter City instead clinched that spot, winning 20 and drawing two. That crucially included a 1-1 stalemate in Devon on the final day of the season against Cherries last month.

With just one promotion place up for grabs in the division, Exeter themselves missed out last year on goal difference alone, finishing second to Cardiff City.

This year, Cherries finished 15 points ahead of third-placed Moneyfields, but will not be competing in the Southern Premier Division next term, instead facing up to another season in the fourth tier.

“I am sure it is something hard to understand, but it is the rules of the division,” Iraola told the Daily Echo.

“I am not sure, but probably it is the first case and it is really strange that you don’t lose a game and you don’t get promoted.

“But I am sure they will continue pushing into next season.”