AFC Telford United Supporters

AFC Telford Supporters Team have been inspiring over the 2011 period with some great results, but now 2011 has passed and it's time for a new beginning starting with Stoke City as their first fixtures in the 2012 calendar.

Player/Manager Adam Guest, Captain Luke Fearnall, Top Scorer Matthew Bethell, Pacey Winger Greg Norton and Central Midfielder Chris Catling all started on the bench for the bucks as the bucks played a rotational squad for this friendly match.

The game started very disappointing for AFC Telford as the squad looked unfit from the Christmas Break and it proved to be a problem when Stoke City attacked midway through the first half, a shot produced from Stoke was saved by goalkeeper Dan Vaughan but the ball was pushed onto the leg of Sean McLean and the captain's armband provided the own goal curse as Stoke City went 1-0 up. Not many chances from Telford in the first half but a mix up with the Stoke goalkeeper and defence provided Lee Simmonds the opportunity to equalise and he didn't fail, the keeper feel to the ground early allowing Simmonds to nicely loft the ball over the keeper into the roof of the net, 1-1.

Second half begun and Guest, Fearnall, Bethell, Norton and Catling were all introduced into the game. The game prduced more of an attacking flow for Telford, Stephen Williams laying through a beautiful pass to Bethell who swung his shot just wide. Numerous chances for Telford to go in the lead but Bethell and Guest hit wide. But the goal finally came from a Williams quick throw which left the defence standing still as Bethell ran through to place it through the keepers leg and score his 50th goal for the Telford Supporters Team. 2-1.

Just moments later Stoke City were on the end of another quick throw in, Williams was creating fantastic chances with his quick tempo and it produced Bethell with another clear chance where he turned two defenders in the box and placed into the left hand bottom corner to make it 3-1 to the Bucks. By this time the game looked wrapped up.

The introduction of Dan Byles on the 75th minute between the sticks replacing Dan Vaughan saw Byles provide Bethell with another chance on goal. With Byles' lofted kick out of his hands provided Bethell with his hat trick as it looped over the opposition defence and Bethell was able to lob the goalkeeper on the 18 yard box, 4-1. It was definitely a earned victory for the Bucks but near the full time whistle Lee McNally made sure of it by scoring the fifth, Adam Guest shown good vision to see the midfielder running through and McNally finished off a classy performance side footing it around the goalkeeper into the right hand corner.

FT Result: Stoke City Supporters 1-5 AFC Telford Supporters