Former world champ fails to be penalty king

Monday 8th December 2008, 10:26AM GMT.

Former snooker world champion Shaun Murphy is renowned for his long pots – but he was not quite as accurate from 12 yards in front of thousands of AFC Telford fans.

Shropshire Star competition winner Lee Jones beat the 2005 world champion in a penalty shoot-out at the club’s New Bucks Head ground.

Mr Jones, from Donnington, Telford, scored all five of his penalties during half-time of Telford’s match against Southport on Saturday in front of a Blue Square North record crowd of 3,558.

Murphy, meanwhile, who admitted he had never previously taken a penalty, could only manage to score two of his.

Mr Jones said: “I am part of three generations who come to every game at Telford and I’m also a big snooker fan.

“I have given up playing football myself to support my son who plays for Oakengates under-10s Colts, so it was great to show him I’ve still got it.”

Mr Jones also had the chance to meet Murphy before kick-off and watched the game, which finished 1-0 in Telford’s favour thanks to Andy Brown’s 73rd minute header.

Murphy was in Telford preparing for the Maplin UK Championship, which begins at the Telford International Centre a week today.