Goals from Eisa and Okenabirihie give To
Town: Trialist (Cameron Gregory, 80), Luke Hendrie, Kieran Kennedy, Mat Sadler (Ryan Sears, 62), Ryan Haynes (Zak Jules, 69), Abo Eisa, Charlie Colkett (Trialist, 84), Josh Laurent (Ryan Barnett, 76), Arthur Gnahoua, Stefan Payne (Fejiri Okenabirhie, 62) and Lenell John-Lewis (Alex Gilliead, 62).
Subs: Cameron Gregory, Ryan Sears, Zak Jules, Trialist, Ryan Barnett, Alex Gilliead and Fejiri Okenabirhie
Telford: Martinez, White, Morley, Royle, Sutton, Streete, Cowans (Barnes-Homer, 72), McQuilkin (Ellis, 72), Morgan-Smith, Cowley and Dawson (Deeney, 72).
Subs: Lilly, Barnes-Homer, Ellis, Udoh, Brow, Knights, Deeney, Trialist.
Referee: Robert Jones
Assistants: Jamie Conde and Danny Clenton
Fourth Official: Brandon Scaife
Attendance: 1061
Town’s penultimate pre-season friendly ended with a victory over local rivals, AFC Telford United away at The New Bucks Head.
After going a goal down in the first minute, Askey’s men secured a victory due to an equaliser from Arthur Gnahoua and a winner by Town new boy Fejri Okenabirie.
Team News: Askey starts with another mixed 11 as the penultimate home game against AFC Telford United gets underway. Charlie Colkett and Josh Laurent get their first starts for the Club
First half:
A fiery and fast paced start saw Telford take the lead within the first minute. A set piece delivery found its way to Morgan-Smith in the box. The Bucks number nine slotted the ball in the right side of the goal past Town’s trialist keeper.
After sustained pressure from Town, Askey’s men were awarded a corner. Kieran Kennedy latched onto Charlie Colkett’s delivery and found Lenell John-Lewis in the box. The striker flicked the ball off the bar but the referee deemed the ball to have not crossed the line.
The next 20 minutes didn’t produce any goalmouth action for either sides, with both teams battling it out in the midfield. Colkett and Ryan Haynes were doing well to advance up the Telford pitch but couldn’t cut out a clear opportunity for the Town front men to have a shot at goal.
Town were awarded a penalty towards the latter stages of the half. Stefan Payne neatly slipped John-Lewis through on goal and the Bucks keeper brought down John-Lewis, but the striker couldn’t find the target from the spot.
Arthur Gnahoua finally got the equaliser for Town with just five minutes left in the half. The midfielder found half a yard of space on the edge of the box and curled a great effort just inside the post, putting the teams level on the score sheet.
Haynes was the next Salop player to have a chance at goal after driving up the field. The left back found himself on the edge of the box and let off a curling shot but the ball lashed off the bar to the relief of the Bucks keeper.
After a dominant end to the half, Town went into the break level with The Bucks.
Arthur Gnahoua found the net to cancel out Morgan Smith’s first minute opener.
Second half:
It didn’t take long for Payne to have a shot at goal. His swerving effort from outside of the box earned his side a corner in the 49th minute. Kieran Kennedy was the man who latched onto the ball but the defender couldn’t find the target after a bright start from Town.
John-Lewis was inches away from making up for his penalty miss shortly after Payne’s effort; the striker found a yard of space in the box and looked set to score. A strong saving foot to the ball from Martinez was the only thing denying Town a one-goal lead.
Similar to the middle of the second half, the goalmouth action dried up with both teams battling it out to have possession of the ball. Both teams didn’t retain the ball enough to create significant chances.
Slightly after the 65th minute Town got the goal that took Askey’s men into the lead. Josh Laurent did well to get behind the defence after a one-two with Gnahoua. He found Fejiri Okenabirhie in space in the box and the Town new boy slotted home to make the score 2-1.
Town’s dominance on the game was beginning to show. Good passing in the midfield ensured Telford were limited to having few chances to danger the Salop back four.
Town saw the game and their penultimate Pre-season friendly ended with a 2-1 score line.