24-07-24. Joe Foulkes shines in Telford friendly

AFC Telford Utd 0 Harriers 1

The Harriers gave what was possibly their most cohesive showing so far in this run of pre-season friendlies in winning 1-0 at at AFC Telford Utd. In a game that the Harriers dominated with some really slick passing it was still disappointing to see only one goal scored when there could have been at least four, or maybe more.

Again it was bemusing to see a defender on the scoresheet, Joe Foulkes with an excellent downward header, although Ashley Hemmings did come close even if his shooting was erratic. We’re still in dire need of a dominant centre forward and hopefully that’ll be forthcoming sooner, rather than later.

Apart from an early chance for the hosts, when our defence was at sixes and sevens, Telford didn’t really look like scoring and Christian Dibble had very little to do. Telford also contained a smattering of former Harriers players in Brandon Hall, Kyle Storer and Matt Stenson while on the bench was Dior Angus but he didn’t come on.

Our first chance fell to that man Foulkes who was on fire all night, his shot forcing Hall into his first save of the sultry July evening – not! His next chance came from Maz Kouhyars’ corner that he rose the highest for and buried the ball beyond Hall.

We were expected to now go on and bag a hatful but that didn’t happen even though we dominated the remainder of the half and fired in shot after shot but with no end result. Joe almost grabbed a second goal when he replicated his goal but this time it was saved by Hall.

HT: 0-1

The second half  Telford returned to the pitch with a flea in their ear and began to compete more leaving us to adopt to a more direct approach. They forced Dibble into an early tip over for a corner even though it appeared to have not been needed because it was going over anyway. Zak Brown tried his luck but a defender on the line kept the ball out while Hemmings came close but no cigar.

Another chance came Ash’s way late on but Brandon kept it out while the impressive Maliq Cadogan, on loan from Swansea City, sent a shot narrowly over. The game ended with run outs for some academy lads: Dan Broni-Phillips, Zak Whittle and Arjun Toor while Jack Lambert also came on following his missing a few games through a hip injury.

Next up is our first friendly at Aggborough when Newport County arrive on Saturday. No Nicky Wright for us this time though.  

FT: 0-1

Telford: Hall, Myles, Fox, Storer, Pendley, Whittall, Walker, Armson, Stenson, E Brown, Hilton

Subs: Angus, Scott, Moore, Dinanga

Harriers: Dibble, Foulkes, Richards, McNally, Downing, Davis, Z Brown, Hemmings, Cadogan, Thompson, Kouhyar.

Subs: Bishop, Broni-Phillips, Maginness, Whittle, N Hewett, Toor, Lambert, Trialist D.