Central Conference
At: New Bucks Head Ground
Kick-off 7-45 pm
Programme: free teamsheet
Attendance: 40 (headcount)
Weather: mild, dry
Duration: first half: 45:30; second half: 45:00
Even though it isn't a 'new' ground, I've been looking forward to visiting the newly-built New Bucks Head Ground and this evening's Reserve team game provided the perfect opportunity. If the opposition was anyone other than Stafford Rangers then I'd never consider ticking off a new (or completely rebuilt) ground for a Reserve team fixture like this one. But I made a exception tonight. Of course, I'd made a number of visits to the old Bucks Head over the years before it was demolished and rebuilt on almost the same footprint.
The new ground boasts a large seated main stand down the western side of the ground with large areas of covered terracing behind each goal. Over on the far touchline was an area of open terracing.
Stafford (wearing all red) got the game underway attacking the Frank Nagington Stand in the first half - left to right in relation to my seat in the main stand - and created a decent chance inside the first minute. A dipping 30-yard shot from Sean Ridgway not missing the AFC Telford goal by much. Home midfielder Ben Twigger also sent a well-struck shot flashing past the Stafford left-hand post from 20 yards out.
Fielding a very strong side including former Boro defender Richard Beale and well-known midfielder Jai Stanley, Telford enjoyed plenty of possession. Gary Birch pulled the ball back for strike partner Lee Moore who couldn’t get on the end. Jemiah Richards did well to prevent Birch getting in a shot while Jack Thorley got in the way of another shot from Birch. Jimmy Turner sent a well-struck drive inches wide of the Boro goal guarded by fit-again Dean Williams.
AFC Telford took the lead in the 38th minute. Moore latched on to a ball down the right from Twigger and sent a low shot into the opposite corner of the net out of reach of Williams. Moore doubled the lead four minutes later. He picked up a ball over the top from Turner and shot past Williams.
Stafford looked to get back into the game after interval and around the hour mark, Carl Motteram fired over after Ridgway’s initial shot was blocked. Christian Dacres also tried his luck with two efforts from well outside the area.
But Telford responded with a third goal in the 73rd minute. Substitute Indy Khela slotted home at close range to end a move involving Beale and Birch. The home side wrapped up the scoring in the 87th minute. Birch was finally rewarded with a goal after picking up Khela’s flick-on.
AFC Telford United Reserves (white / navy blue / navy blue): 1. Damien Stvens, 2. Elliott Durrell, 3. Richard Beale, 4. Richard Teesdale, 5. David Woodvine, 6. Jimmy Turner (capt), 7. Jai Stanley, 8. Adam Cain, 9. Lee Moore, 10. Gary Birch, 11. Ben Twigger. Subs: 12. Matthew Wood (for Beale, 83), 14. Indy Khela (for Durrell, 59), 15. Justin Marsden (not used), 16. Dean Craven (not used), 17. Tyrone Barnett (not used).
Stafford Rangers (red/red/red): 1. Dean Williams, 2. Dan Holgate, 3. Matt Skinner, 4. Christian Dacres, 5. Jemiah Richards (capt), 6. Jack Thorley, 7. Steve Hopkinson, 8. Sean Ridgway, 9. Richard Haynes, 10. Ricardo Wilks, 11. Carl Motteram, Subs: 12. Mike Weston (for Skinner, 51), 14. Spencer Gunnell (not used), 15. Andre Francis (for Hopkinson, 51), 16. Steve Bibby (for Wilks, 77), Lee Scott (not used).
Referee: Terry Holbrook.
Goals:
1-0 Lee Moore (38)
2-0 Lee Moore (42)
3-0 Indy Khela (73)
4-0 Gary Birch (87)
