Boss Rob Smith insists AFC Telford United will keep it clean in tomorrow’s Shropshire Senior Cup final with Shrewsbury Town.

The last meeting between the sides in 2006 was shrouded in controversy, with then-Town manager Gary Peters even threatening to take his players off the pitch at one stage because of Telford’s alleged rough-house tactics.

But Smith insists there will be nothing of that nature at the Prostar Stadium tomorrow – pointing to his side’s stylish display in their friendly with Port Vale on Tuesday as evidence.

“I don’t think it will be a needle game,” he said. “A lot’s been made of the game down here (three years ago) but we were a different side then.

“We were full of grit then but we’re a footballing side now.

“If anyone from Shrewsbury thinks we’re going to boot them off the park they can forget it – they can talk to Micky Adams (the Port Vale boss) and he will tell them what we are all about.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Shrewsbury’s manager Paul Simpson and we’ll go there and play football, just like we did on Tuesday night. It will be a big test.”

Smith admits to frustration at the reputation he and assistant Larry Chambers have in some quarters for producing physical teams, insisting it is not merited.

“It goes back to our Willenhall days that we have got a reputation for booting everyone off the park, but all we’ve ever been is committed,” he added.

“I think you can see there’s a change in us now – when you come to a club like this you can afford to bring quality footballers in and that’s what we’ve done.”

Telford will be without right-back Lee Vaughan and midfielder Phil Trainer for tomorrow’s clash, both serving suspensions carried over from last season.

Trialist left-back Gareth Jelleyman is in line to make a second appearance in white-and-black as Smith continues his efforts to reach a deal to sign the former Peterborough and Mansfield defender.