Sporting Wolves 0 AFC Telford 5 - Report

Ross White, Aaron Hayden, Kieran Dunbar and an Anthony Dwyer brace earned a second pre-season success from four for Edwards.

Telford’s side fielded two of this summer’s trialists in their starting XI, with Wolves under-23 defender Hayden and ex-Liverpool man Will Marsh in from the off at Pride Park.

The friendly was arranged as part of forward Daniel Westwood’s March transfer from Sporting to the New Bucks Head. Westwood was then moved on to Stafford Rangers shortly into Edwards’ reign.

After a cautious start in which home skipper Angelo Franco hit the first effort down the throat of Jas Singh, the Bucks broke the deadlock eight minutes in.

Luke Shaw’s corner was met powerfully by right-back White who opened his Telford account with a bullet header.

Elliot Newby then curled a free-kick inches wide of the top corner.

The West Midlands Premier Division side got themselves a foothold in the encounter midway through the half and matched the Bucks of fourth leagues above.

Singh was on his toes on a couple of occasions to clear away high balls from Andy Paddock’s side.

Telford were fortunate to escape as Sporting went closest yet on half hour. Franco’s fine delivery near the corner flag looped over Singh and was heading for the corner flag before Shane Sutton cleared from near his own goalline.

Newby then screamed for a Telford spot-kick was almost connecting with Ross White’s cross.

The Bucks upped the ante towards the break and it yielded a second goal. John Marsden freed Marsh but his low effort towards the corner was saved. A flag-kick was recycled and a fine delivery was met by unmarked defender Hayden to power home.

Edwards shuffled his pack and sent on Joe Fitzpatrick, Kieran Dunbar and trialist Dwyer at the break.

But the visitors should have been back in it as the half went on. Forward Tom Hill had a trio of effort, placing one just wide with Singh on his toes to keep out the other two.

Dunbar then smacked the Sporting crossbar from 25 yards.

With 17 minutes remaining Edwards’ men made it three. Sub Zak Lilly superbly chased a ball near the deadline, keeping it alive and pulling back for Dwyer who smashed it into the top corner.

Jordan Evans threatened a fourth but his fierce arrowed shot, destined for the top corner, was tipped away.

Dunbar made it four with 10 minutes remaining, afforded too much space he fired a fine strike into the top corner from distance.

Dwyer bagged his second shortly after, converting a low finish after Evans’ fine left-sided delivery.

Team:

AFC Telford (4-3-3): Singh (Martinez, 61); White, Hayden (Bailey, 61), Sutton, Gough; Royle (Dunbar, 45), Marsh (Fitzpatrick, 45), Marsden (Rea, 61); Shaw (Dwyer, 45), Newby (Evans, 61), Barnes-Homer (Lilly, 61)