AFC Telford 3 v Shawbury 0 - pictures and analysis

And the crowd will not have been disappointed with their first viewing as the Bucks recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over lower league county neighbours Shawbury United in the Shropshire Senior Cup quarter-finals.

An upset victory for Dave Richards' West Midlands Premier Division outfit had always looked unlikely against a side preparing for a promotion push four flights further up the English football pyramid.

The significance of this result should not be exaggerated, but the dominant display turned in by Telford in the first half of their first pre-season fixture in particular will have left the supporters in attendance keen to see more.

The Bucks had barely touched a ball since returning to pre-season training last Tuesday, instead focusing on fitness drills.

But there were some relatively sharp performances from the new-look Telford in the opening period.

Midfielders Sean Clancy and Russell Benjamin both displayed energy and creativity on the left and right respectively as Telford enjoyed a fast start.

The latter laid on the opening goal for Nathan Rooney, who slotted home clinically from Benjamin's cut back after just eight minutes.

The goal owed much to Benjamin's persistence as he pounced on a poor clearance by full-back Jake Jones to create the shooting chance.

He should, though, have added a goal to his assist when Andy Owens' rebound fell invitingly in the box soon afterwards, only for him to shoot wide from a tight angle.

Clancy, meanwhile, had sent striker Adam Farrell through on goal in the first few minutes, but his effort had been saved by Shawbury keeper Nicholas Ashley.

And he created good headed chances for Andy Owens and Dan Preston shortly before half-time, the first of which was cleared off the line and the second of which was nodded wide.

Owens and Farrell also stood out, and it was the latter who coolly doubled Telford's lead on 26 minutes.

Farrell controlled well from Rooney's free-kick – an assist to go with his earlier goal – and rounded Ashley before tapping the ball into the unguarded net.

Owens was also proving a real handful for Shawbury's defenders and he won a penalty in the dying minutes of the first half after being upended by Marc Stallard in the box.

Clancy then sent Ashley the wrong way to complete a pleasing first half for the hosts.

Shawbury hadn't created a chance in the opening 45 minutes but they settled better after the break and Bucks keeper Ryan Young was called into his first significant save three minutes into the second half.

United striker Stuart Ellis raced on to useful through ball but Young was out quickly at his feet to smother the effort from close range.

Stallard also missed a very good headed chance soon afterwards, but Wes Baynes and second half substitute Tony Gray went even closer for the hosts with two fizzing efforts from distance.

Both sides made three changes in the second half and the pace of the game dropped significantly, as could be expected of two sides a week and two weeks into pre-season training.

The match served a number of purposes though, not least of which it allowed Watson and Richards to look at a small number of trialists each.

Rooney will have done his hopes of a new deal at Telford no harm with a productive display while fellow midfielders Martyn Jackson and Robbie Booth looked tidy and comfortable in possession.

Shawbury's Callum Adams and Tom Kelly endured more testing cameos but will still have given Richards food for thought, meanwhile

This was not an immaculate performance from the Bucks, who were wasteful with a number of free-kicks and chances in both halves.

But they did what they should be doing against lower league opposition, while Shawbury should feel no disgrace in defeat after a dogged display.

Far harder tests await for Watson's men in the coming months, and history has shown that pre-season results often count for little when league football arrives. But this was a job well done.

AFC Telford: Young, Baynes, Grand, Preston, Lever, Benjamin (Moogan HT), Rooney (Booth 64), Jackson, Clancy (Gray 57), Owens, Farrell. Unused subs: Byrne, Pryce.

Shawbury United: Ashley, Groom (Adams HT), Jones, Lloyd, Stallard, Beddows, Ballard, Alderson, Millington, Ellis (Williams 69), Constantine (Kelly 56). Subs not used: Worthington, Dean.

Attendance: 567 Referee: A Dean

By Matt Viney