Two second half goals give Telford the cup win
Town: Shaun Rowley, Ryan Sears, Ryan McGivern, George Hughes, Olly Lancashire, Dom Smith, Ryan Barnett, Chris Gallagher, Stephen Humphrys (Tyrone Ofori 46), AJ Leitch-Smith, John McAtee (Matty Jones 74)Substitutes: Joel Bonner, Cameron Gregory, Tyrone Ofori, Matty Jones, George Hassell
Telford: Matt Urwin, Dwayne Samuels, Joel Dielna, Ben Bailey, Luca Havern, Jack Rea, John Paul Kissock, Eddie Jones, Josh Wilson (Danny Reynolds 25), Zak Lilly (Connor McCarthy 74), Elliot Hodge (Benji Robinson 84)
Substitutes: Jon Royle, Dominic Bendall Court, Connor McCarthy, Danny Reynolds, Benji Robinson
Referee: Mike Jones
Two second half goals from Telford United gave them victory and crowned them as the Shropshire Senior Cup winners for 2017. A penalty right at the start of the second half from Elliot Hodge and a second goal 10 minutes before the end from Connor McCarthy was enough to give the Bucks the win.
Team News:
Chris Doig picks a relatively strong Town line-up including six of Paul Hurst’s first team squad. Stephen Humphrys and AJ Leitch-Smith provide the firepower with Dom Smith, Ryan McGivern and Olly Lancashire making up a strong back four.
First Half:
It was Telford who started the game faster and they came close to taking the lead in the opening three minutes as Elliot Hodge’s shot from the edge of the box appeared to be tipped over the bar by Shaun Rowley, but the referee gave a goal kick.
Both sides looked relatively cautious in the opening quarter of an hour as they tried to get their respective passing games going. The closest Town came was from Stephen Humphrys whose shot from distance was straight at Telford ‘keeper Matt Urwin.
Humphrys however would have a number of efforts as the half wore on. His strength and pace allowed him to turn his man on more than one occasion, but the finish was lacking as he shot wide from good positions on two occasions.
At the other end Shaun Rowley was forced to make a good save after Josh Wilson played the ball through and Elliot Hodge wrong footed Olly Lancashire before shooting low to Rowley’s left, but the young goalie was up to the task.
As the half wore on Town began to get on top and AJ Leitch-Smith twice forced Matt Urwin into good saves. The first saw Leitch-Smith get in down the Telford left and his shot from a tight angle stung the palms of Urwin. The second came ten minutes before the break as Leitch-Smith turned his man and got a shot way but Urwin saved well to his left.
Town had one more chance before the break when they put together their best move of the first half as Stephen Humphrys played in Ryan Barnett on the right hand side. Barnett comfortably beat his man, but his shot went just wide with Leitch-Smith lurking in the middle.
Half Time: 0-0
Second Half:
Town replaced Stephen Humphrys with Tyrone Ofori at the start of the second half, but the second 45 couldn’t have got off to a worse start for Town as Telford ran straight through the heart of the Town back four from the kick-off and Elliot Hodge was brought down by trailing leg of Shaun Rowley as Mike Jones pointed to the spot. Hodge stood back up and took the penalty himself, sending Rowley the wrong way.
Town struggled to get going after the goal and Telford could have gone ahead two minutes later if it wasn’t for the intervention of George Hughes as Telford broke quickly down the right.
Both sides were struggling to cut anything clear cut and Town’s best spell came 20 minutes into the half when they had an extended spell of possession on the edge of the Telford box, but they couldn’t get a shot away as Telford stayed resolute at the back.
The Bucks almost doubled their lead a couple of minutes later as Hodge once again caused problems down the Telford right and his cross was parried into the six yard box by Shaun Rowley and Danny Reynolds’ shot on the follow up was blocked on the line by Olly Lancashire.
Ryan Barnett was the next to try his luck for Town as the 17 year old shot from distance but it was too easy for Urwin and Town made their second change of the evening as Matt Jones replaced John McAtee.
Town never really got their attacking game going in the second half and Telford doubled their lead 10 minutes before the end when Joel Dielner’s shot was palmed away by Shaun Rowley and Connor McCarthy was on hand to head home the rebound.
Town went close in added time when Matt Jones volley went just wide, but that was as good as it got on a disappointing night in the Senior Cup.