TNS 0 AFC Telford 3 - Report and pictures

A Ryan Valentine effort and two superb Steve Jones goals saw AFC Telford United reach the Shropshire Senior Cup final after knocking out holders The New Saints.

The Bucks took the lead in the play-off final through Valentine early in the second half, and could have doubled their tally long before Jones made the game safe.

The 35-year old midfielder cut in from the left before firing past Alex Ramsey with 10 minutes remaining.

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And he found the net again with a 30-yard belter four minutes later to cap Telford’s finest display of the pre-season so far.

Andy Sinton made four changes from the side that started against Stourbridge in midweek with Jake Reid, Luke Hubbins and Jay Smith all promoted from the bench while midfielder Jones returned to the line-up after a stiff back had ruled him out of Tuesday’s game.

The bench included five trialists, with Aaron Cole and Tom Roberts – who both played in midweek – joined by former Everton keeper Connor Roberts, ex-Port Vale midfielder Christian Smith and former Wolves forward James Spray.

TNS, unsurprisingly, rang the changes ahead of this week’s Champions League second qualifying round second leg away at Helsingborgs with only one member of the line-up who began against the Swedish champions – Chris Seargeant – named in the starting XI.

Telford created the first chance in the fifth minute when Dan Preston headed just over from Jay Smith’s free-kick after Jones had been fouled.

Smith was the provider again three minutes later but Phil Trainer’s header was held by Alex Ramsey.

Telford striker Chris Sharp then showed great skill and trickery to beat Kai Edwards but Ramsey saved his long-range effort in the 15th minute.

At the other end Scott Ruscoe shot straight at Young from distance but Telford continued to edge proceedings and Reid fired just over after Hubbins intercepted Ruscoe’s loose pass a minute later.

Home man Seargeant was next to miss the target, from distance, but it was Telford who should have opened the scoring when Reid fired Sharp’s pull-back over from close range six minutes before half-time.

Sinton was forced to make two quick changes early in the second half with Sharp, suffering from severe blister, replaced by Spray a minute after the restart and Hubbins making way for Tom Roberts six minutes after the break following a tough tackle by Nicky Ward.

But Telford made the breakthrough moments later when Valentine rounded Ramsey and slotted home after being put through by Reid’s reverse pass.

The hosts tried to respond but Young acrobatically saved Ruscoe’s long-range effort and Tom Allen headed wide from a corner.

Ruscoe then struck the side-netting for the hosts but on the counter-attack Spray, Rooney and Reid were all denied by the reflexes of Ramsey.

But Jones made the game safe with two goals in the final 10 minutes to set up a final with Shrewsbury.

The New Saints: Ramsey, Simms, Edwards, Ruscoe, Ward, Seargent (Ryan Jones 63), King (Spender 22), Rawlinson, Finley (Chris Jones 63), Allen, Quigley.

Subs not used: Edwards, Douglas.

AFC Telford: Young, Hubbins (Roberts 51), Valentine, Smith (Christian Smith 70), Preston, Salmon, Jones, Trainer, Sharp (Spray 46), Reid, Rooney.

Subs not used: Cole, Roberts.

Goals: Valentine 53 Jones 80, 84

Booked: Jones

Referee: Rob Lewis (Shropshire)