A Wembley near miss spurs on Sam Smith
Striker Sam Smith has never played at Wembley – but a near-miss has given him extra motivation to do just that with AFC Telford United in the FA Trophy.
Smith, 24, spent last season on loan from Cambridge United at the now-defunct Hereford and helped the Bulls avoid relegation.
It was only temporarily – they were expelled from the Conference for failing to pay creditors – and he returned to the Us, who had made the play-offs.
He was handed a surprise start in the semi-final first leg against Halifax which Cambridge lost 1-0.
But he was not in the squad for the second leg, which they won 2-0, or the final in which they defeated Gateshead 2-1 at Wembley to earn promotion to League Two.
And Smith, who is expected to feature in tonight's second-round game at Fylde, said: "I haven't played at Wembley, unfortunately.
"I have been part of a squad that has been there at Cambridge at the end of the last season.
"They reached the play-off final but I wasn't involved in it, unfortunately, and it would be lovely to actually be on that pitch."
Talk of Wembley may seem premature, but victory for the Bucks tonight would put them into the last 16 – just three wins away from a dream final.
Telford are unbeaten in five and coming off the back of a dominant 4-0 win at Wrexham on Saturday.
But safe passage to round three, where a trip to FC United of Manchester awaits, is no foregone conclusion.
The hosts, who lead Conference North, are only one place below Telford in the English football pyramid.
They have also won their last nine matches on the spin and Smith knows there can be no room for complacency.
He said: "I think when you are doing well you look forward to games coming thick and fast.
"But it will be a different proposition tonight to the Wrexham game. We can't take them lightly whatsoever because they are top of the Conference North and they have not been beaten in a while.
"But we will go there with the same attitude we had on Saturday."
As league leaders, Fylde have a potent strike force and the division's best defence. Telford, who are bottom of the Conference Premier, have the worst rearguard in the non-league's top tier.
But a series of signings by new manager Steve Kittrick and a change in playing style have seen a significant improvement.
Telford had not kept a clean sheet in the league under previous boss Liam Watson. But they can now boast two in their last five.
That improvement has come despite recent injuries to centre-halves which have forced midfielder Mike Grogan to slot in alongside Neill Byrne in the back line.
Telford also fielded two debutants at full-back – John Disney and Ben McLaughlin – at the weekend.
Smith said: "Grogan is a holding midfielder really, but he has shown he can do well at centre-half and so has Neill Byrne. And the full-backs have come in and done well.
"It was great to get a clean sheet on Saturday and if we can keep getting them, that is a foundation for good things."
Smith added that defensive improvements have also spurred him on to hunt more goals. The former Cambridge man claimed his sixth of the season on Saturday.
He said: "Sometimes if you know only one or two goals is enough to win a game, that gives you a bit more confidence to go and get that decisive goal."
