Stourbridge 1 AFC Telford 0 - Match report

A superb curling free-kick from Sean Geddes condemned Telford to their first defeat of the pre-season at Stourbridge last night, writes Matt Viney.

The Glassboys midfielder struck the ball sweetly over the wall five minutes before the break to provide the decisive moment at the War Memorial Ground.

It was a moment of real quality in an even match which saw both sides create chances.

Both teams fielded trialists as they continue to build towards their new campaigns in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier and Blue Square Bet Premier respectively.

The Bucks handed starts to trialists Darryl Knights, Jack Lane and Aaron Cole, with three others – Tom Roberts, Mike McGrath and Charisma Agbonlahor – beginning on the bench.

For the hosts, Stourbridge manager Gary Hackett handed summer signing Luke Benbow his home debut while trialists Tom Turton, Chris Knight and Matt Hearsey all made the bench.

The visitors went close first when Nathan Rooney drilled an early daisy-cutter just wide six minutes in.

At the other end Benbow headed wide from Sean Evans’ left-wing cross four minutes later.

But Telford came within inches of opening the scoring when Knights struck the underside of the bar from 25 yards out with a superb effort which deserved a goal.

Stourbridge continued to match their higher-league opponents in an even opening 25 minutes and they had a penalty shout turned away after former Buck Evans appeared to have been brought down by Lane.

Stourbridge’s Sam Rock fired straight at keeper Ryan Young after 23 minutes while, at the other end, Chris Sharp saw his chipped effort sail onto the roof of the net from the edge of the box. Young had a scare when he allowed a speculative long-range pass to bounce over his head on the edge of his box under pressure from Benbow and he had Dan Preston to thank for clearing the danger.

Knights then drilled wide from distance 13 minutes from the break but Geddes stepped up to put the hosts ahead after 40 minutes.

Telford assistant boss Mike Davies brought on Agbonlahor, Roberts and McGrath for Richard Davies, Lane and Cole at the interval.

And Agbonlahor sliced a great chance to equalise after Stourbridge keeper Tom Turner had parried a Roberts cross into his path in the box. Both sides made changes as the game entered its final third and could have found the net in that time.

Phil Trainer headed wide from another Roberts cross for Telford and Stourbridge substitute Turton fired over a glorious chance for the hosts after Young had parried a vicious low drive into his path.

Stourbridge: Turner, Rock (Hearsey 74), Griffiths (Lloyd 65), McCone, Geddes, Bennett, Oliver, Broadhurst (Dyson 65), Benbow (Knight 74), Billingham (Turton 74), Evans (Canavan 63).

AFC Telford: Young, Salmon, Valentine, Lane (Roberts 45), Preston, Davies (Agbonlahor 45), Rooney, Trainer (Smith 70), Sharp, Knights (Reid 65), Cole (McGrath 45). Subs not used: Dominic Smith, Luke Hubbins.