Get it right when it matters – that was the message from boss Paul Simpson today after Shrewsbury Town’s Shropshire Senior Cup setback.

Town went down 4-1 on penalties at the Prostar Stadium on Saturday, non-League outfit AFC Telford prevailing after a 1-1 draw.

The surprise defeat did not go down well with most of the 2,413 crowd, but Simpson played down the significance of the result.

“I thought it was a good pre-season work-out for us,” he said. “Unfortunately for us there was a trophy at stake and we didn’t win it.

“People tell me we have won it for the last 10 years or so, but we haven’t actually achieved anything in that time.

“Let’s hope this is a little bit of a change of fortunes, and this season we can actually do something when it really matters.

“I’m disappointed to have lost the game but I’m not going to get screwed up about it and I hope no-one else is either. It’s about preparing for the start of the season.

“There were a few positives to take out of it, but it also showed us that there are a lot of things we still have to work on before we get to that first game of the season on August 8.”

Meanwhile, the Town chief is continuing with his efforts to strengthen the Shrewsbury squad.

He admitted he was low in numbers in several areas of the side, and hopes to remedy the situation.

“We’re looking all the time for players who are going to improve our squad,” Simpson added.

“We’ve just got to keep working to try and improve the players we’ve got here and also keep working to bring in players who are going to make us better.”

By CHRIS HUDSON