A look back at the Cup tie at Telford
By Matty Paddock - 13/09/2025
Posted 2 months ago
HARRIERS exited the Emirates FA Cup at the Second Qualifying Round after a 3-1 defeat at league rivals AFC Telford.
In what had been a bright start by the visitors, Harriers had the ball in the net after less than two minutes when Kurt Willoughby turned the ball home from close range, though the effort was ruled out for an apparent offside.
Harriers continued to press, Kam Kandola picking out Joe Foulkes whose cut-back to Willoughby was blocked for a corner, while on 22 minutes the striker tested Joshua Gracey with a powerful drive that was turned away.
Despite the strong start, it was the hosts who struck first on 23 minutes. Christian Dibble saved a cross from the left but the rebound fell to Rhys Hilton who converted from close range.
Dylan Allen-Hadley soon threatened a second, flashing a shot across goal, before Harriers replied with Adigun’s cross finding Foulkes for a volley that flew over.
George Walker was immediately involved after the restart having earlier replaced Devine, driving forward on 51 minutes and seeing a deflected shot loop over the bar. Willoughby then went close again, stretching to turn an effort into the side-netting, before Luke Spokes curled a free kick narrowly over on 65 minutes.
Telford doubled their lead midway through the half. Dibble had just denied Orrin Pendley with an instinctive save, but when the ball came back into the area moments later the defender executed a sublime overhead kick to make it 2-0 eight after the hour.
Three Harriers changes followed on 79 minutes, with Jack Clarke, Seb Thompson and Tobi Sho-Silva sent on. Sho-Silva almost made an instant impact with a shot held by Gracey, and it was the striker who pulled one back on 87 minutes when he headed home at the far post from a re-worked corner.
Hopes of a late turnaround were dashed deep into stoppage time. Dibble was shown a red card on 90+3 minutes for handling outside his area in an attempt to thwart Matty Stenson’s counter attack, leaving Amari Morgan-Smith to go in goal.
With Harriers committing bodies forward, Telford countered and substitute Charlie Williams rolled the ball into an empty net to seal the tie at 3-1 despite the move appearing offside.
It was a chaotic end to a frustrating afternoon for Harriers who’re now left to focus on the battle of life in National League North.
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