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Match Report | AFC Telford 1-1 Hednesford Town

22 August 2026

Summary:

Hednesford come from behind to claim a point against AFC Telford United at the New Bucks Head.

Matt Stenson poked the hosts ahead before the Pitmen clawed back coutesy of a bullet header from Jai Curran-Nicholls.

Team News

Boss Kelvin Davis’ made two changes from the side whiich drew 2-2 against Southport on Tuesday evening.

Sam Hornby kept his place in between the sticks.

A back three of George Langston, Aaron Hayden and Aaron Harper-Bailey remained; with Lenni Cirino and Dylan Mottley-Henry at wingback.

A slight tactical tweak into a 3-5-2 saw the Pitmen line up with a three man midfield of captain Dale Gorman, Liam Kinsella and Jai Curran-Nicholls, with the latter coming in for Omari Sterling-James.

Up top, a strike partnership of Jamie Cooke and Akheem Rose led the line in the absence of Aaron Jarvis.

Report

Within the opening five minutes, Matt Stenson should have put the hosts a goal to the good.

Following a corner, the Telford No.9 blazed over only a number of yards from goal.

Four minutes later, the Pitmen fired back with an opportunity of their own through Lenni Cirino.

After inverting in from the left-hand side, the wingback forced a strong stop from Lewys Benjamin.

Not long after, Cirino was kept at bay once more by Benjamin with Hednesford continuing to probe.

29 minutes in, Sam Hornby got down well to his right-hand side to keep out a shot from distance from Samuel Mclintock; rounding off the action in an evenly contested first half.

Ten minutes after the break, Hornby made a crucial save to deny Stenson; deflecting the forwards effort onto the crossbar before claiming the resulting corner.

However, with 64 minutes on the clock, Stenson wasn’t to be denied again as he latched onto the end of a cross from Matt Curley to steer The Bucks ahead.

Their lead did not last long.

Jai Curran-Nicholls steered a header from the penalty spot past Benjamin to put the Pitmen level.

Hednesford continued on the front foot for the remaining 20 minutes.

Jamie Cooke and Cirino both had efforts saved by Benjamin, as the Pitmen walked away with a point on the road.

Lineups

AFC Telford: Benjamin, Curley, Lilly, Fletcher, Stenson (Moult 84), Lambert (Hilton 84), Kelly-Evans, Mclintock, Owen, Cawthorne, Walker

Subs not used: Pendley, Mitchell, Hall

Hednesford Town: Hornby, Langston, Hayden, Cooke, Gorman, Rose (Sterling-James 64), Mottley-Henry, Harper-Bailey (Merry 70), Kinsella, Cirino, Curran-Nicholls

Subs not used: Parke, Morgan, Abimbola, Sharples

Match Commentary

At 4:53:23:

Full time AFC Telford United 1-1 Hednesford Town

At 4:51:12:

90+2 Cirino's cross is put out for a corner, the corner is cleared.

At 4:47:39:

89' Cirino shoots straight at the keeper.

At 4:42:07:

83' Cross from Merry, headed from Cooke saved by the keeper.

At 4:36:14:

77' Stenson booked for a foul on Hornby.

At 4:35:00:

76' Telford freekick taken by Walker, headed behind for a corner. Corner is cleared.

At 4:32:28:

74' Curran-Nicholls heads home an equaliser 1-1.

At 4:29:29:

71' Cirino booked for a foul. Merry replaces Harper-Bailey

At 4:24:42:

65' Mottley-Henry is booked.

At 4:23:27:

64' Telford take the lead through Stenson with a shot from close range. 1-0

At 4:21:36:

63' Pitmen sub Sterling-James replaces Rose who is injured.

At 4:19:00:

61' Rose shoots wide of the post.

At 4:17:06:

59' Harper-Bailey booked for a foul.

At 4:15:37:

57' Rose and Cooke combine well and Cooke hits the side netting.

At 4:13:10:

55' Hornby makes a great save from Lambert. Telford corner, claimed by Hornby.

At 4:11:12:

53' Mottley-Henry wins a corner, Gorman takes, headed clear.

At 4:09:42:

50' Pitmen corner Gorman with the delivery, cleared at the near post. Ball put back in from Gorman, shout for a hand ball not given.

At 4:06:59:

48' Pitmen corner, Gorman takes, claimed by the keeper.

At 4:01:26:

Second half is underway

At 3:46:38:

Half time 0-0

At 3:41:29:

40' Foul on Cooke as he latched onto Hornby's clearance. Gorman with the freekick, goes out for a goal kick at the far post.

At 3:39:20:

36' Harper-Bailey goes down in the Telford area, nothing given.

At 3:29:50:

29' Hornby saves a shot from distance.

At 3:26:54:

26' Cirino gets on the end of a cross but aims his header straight at the keeper.

At 3:20:24:

19 Telford have a shout for a penalty following a challenge from Mottley-Henry, not given.

At 3:12:47:

12' Mottley-Henry with a cross, Rose puts his header wide.

At 3:10:36:

9' Cirino forces a good save from Benjamin

At 3:09:06:

7' Foul on Rose, Telford player booked, ball into the area and cleared

At 3:06:18:

5' Telford corner, Walker takes, headed away ,ball comes back in but is blasted over the crossbar

At 3:01:57:

1' Pitmen freekick by the corner flag, whipped in by Cirino but the ball goes out for a goalkick

At 3:00:05:

Kick off and we are underway at Telford.

At 2:26:18:

Hednesford Town; Hornby, Langston, Hayden, Cooke, Gorman, Rose, Mottley-Henry, Harper-Bailey, Kinsella Cirino, Curran-Nicholls. Subs; Parke, Sterling-James, Morgan, Abimbola, Sharples, Merry

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