AFC Telford in search for a friendly

AFC Telford United were today on a frantic search for a last-minute friendly after the postponement of next week's Shropshire Senior Cup final.

Telford booked their place with a 4-1 semi-final win over Market Drayton Town at Greenfields last night and will face Oswestry-based The New Saints –who defeated a youthful Shrewsbury side 2-1 at The Venue.

The Shropshire FA had provisionally scheduled the final to take place next Tuesday, but that has now had to be shelved because TNS have a Europa League second qualifying round second leg tie away to Danish side FC Midtjylland just two days later.

"I'll be speaking to Ian Williams (TNS general manager) today and, coincidently, I have a meeting with the Telford chairman Lee Carter this afternoon in any case," said Shropshire FA chief executive Roy Waterfield.

"I would expect us to agree a date with the two clubs by the end of today – I'm guessing both of them would be eager to get the game played before league programmes start.

"We are keen to reach a mutually agreeable date and ensure a competitive final."

Bucks boss Andy Sinton has already started to contact other managers in order to try and set up an alternative friendly game next Tuesday, having found himself left with an unexpected hole in his warm-up fixture list.

"We had scheduled our pre-season programme with the final in mind, so we are on the case today," he said.

"We need a game and I've already got a behind-closed-doors game on Monday for trialists and a few squad players.

"We'll need another one on Tuesday or Wednesday because we've got a squad of 24 or 25 and I want to get minutes into their legs."

The Saints have reached the final after being invited into the Senior Cup for the first time in their history this season.

But boss Mike Davies insisted they would not have been able to play next week, with their European ambitions understandably taking priority.

"If it was going to be next Tuesday we would have had to give Telford the tie because we fly out to Denmark that day and that would have made it mission impossible," he said.

"Hopefully we can re-arrange for a better day to suit.

"It's got to be right for both teams so hopefully myself and Andy Sinton can have a chat and get something agreed for both parties."

By CHRIS HUDSON