AFC Telford United face their biggest pre-season test so far as Cheltenham Town visit the New Bucks Head tonight (7.45pm) for the first of two showpiece friendlies.The visit of the League One side will mark a big step up in class for the Bucks, who have recorded two 5-1 victories in their outings so far against Stratford Town and Wellington Amateurs.
Boss Rob Smith is looking forward to getting a measure of the progress his side has made, both tonight and against Championship newcomers Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
“I’m confident we’ll put up a good display and show how far we’ve come at this stage of the season,” said Smith.
“Tonight we won’t have the ball as much as we have in the last two games and the lads will have to do a fair bit of chasing.
“But it’s nice to be back at home and everyone is quite looking forward to that - especially the new lads.
“We want to put up a good show and it should be an entertaining game. We’ll try and get it down and play, and it would be great if we could take the scalp of a League One club.”
The Bucks are without midfielder Gary Fitzpatrick, who has gone on holiday after breaking up for the summer from his day job as a PE teacher.
“We’re going to have that problem with Jamie Vermiglio soon too, because they’re both teachers,” added Smith.
“They need a break as much as anybody else and I know they’re the type who will maintain their fitness while they’re abroad.”
Cheltenham will include former Manchester United winger Michael Barnes in their squad for tonight’s clash.
Barnes spent a month on loan at Shrewsbury Town at the end of last season without making a much of an impact, and also had a trial with Bristol City.
Another man to have come under the scrutiny of Robins chief Keith Downing is ex-Bucks striker Michael Husbands, though he is unlikely to be involved tonight.
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