Shropshire Star

Telford 3 Wrexham 1 - Report and pictures

Daniel Udoh was at the double as AFC Telford United beat Sam Ricketts' Wrexham 3-1 in a pre-season friendly at the New Bucks Head.

Published
Last updated

Ricketts, who played for the Bucks in the 2003/04 season and went on to play for Hull City, Bolton Wanderers and Wolves, would have been disappointed with his side's display.

Gavin Cowan's Telford took an early lead through Udoh and Shane Sutton struck shortly after.

Mike Fondop was on the mark for the Dragons just prior to the interval but Udoh put the game to bed for the Bucks on the hour mark.

Telford went with the same side which started their previous home friendly - a 3-0 loss to Championship side Aston Villa - and took the lead in the second minute.

The ball bounced around the middle of the park and dropped kindly for Bucks playmaker Darryl Knights, who took a couple of touches before releasing Udoh to slot past Rob Lainton with his left foot.

Despite Wrexham being a division above, it was the Bucks who seemed more well-rounded. And they doubled their lead before the 20th minute, through an unlikely source.

Centre-half Sutton lashed home on the volley following James McQuilkin's inswinging corner from the left-hand side. Emphatic finish.

Telford had a couple more chances to score before the break - an Udoh drive and an Andre Brown header both travelling wide.

The Dragons had a great opportunity on the stroke of half-time too and took it as Fondop headed past Sheridan Martinez, who had made some decent saves beforehand, from close range.

Cowan's one and only substitution for the start of the second period saw trialist goalkeeper Nick Townsend replace Martinez.

Ricketts' Wrexham looked a lot more assured, having the lion's share of possession for a long period after the restart, but were cut apart by one pass as the Bucks regained a two-goal advantage.

The Dragons' defence were simply too high up the pitch and McQuilkin's through-ball found Udoh, who had all the time in the world to grab his second of the afternoon - and his fifth of pre-season.

A few more Telford switches came within several minutes of that goal - Amari Morgan-Smith, Jon Royle and Adam Dawson all entering the fray.

The clash then petered out, with neither side threatening to net again. Youngster Zak Lilly did get another run-out at centre-half though and trialist Jason Cowley had a few minutes up front as well.

Teams

Telford (4-4-2) :Martinez (Townsend, 46); Streete, Sutton (Lilly, 80), D Smith, White; Cowans, Deeney (Royle, 61), McQuilkin (Ellis, 80), Knights (Dawson, 65); Brown (Morgan-Smith, 61), Udoh (Cowley, 80)

Subs not used: Barnes-Homer, Wycherley

Wrexham (4-2-3-1): Lainton (Trialist A, 46); Roberts (Trialist B, 46), M Smith, Wright, Jennings; Carrington (L Smith, 73), Young; Rutherford, Summerfield, Holroyd; Fondop

Subs not used: Sargent, Tharme

Attendance: 784