AFC Telford United Prepares for Playoff Semi-Final Against Halesowen Town
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The Bucks face Halesowen Town on Wednesday night at the SEAH Stadium in a highly anticipated playoff semi-final match. According to AFC Telford United’s match preview, the match will take place on April 30th, 2025, at 7:45 pm, with the winner advancing to the playoff final.
The two teams finished the season with a remarkably similar record, both accumulating 74 points, with AFC Telford United securing the third spot due to a marginally better goal difference. The two teams played out a 1-1 draw at The Grove on Easter Monday, just over a week ago. As AFC Telford United’s match preview notes, “there’s little, if anything, between the two sides.”
Halesowen Town has been one of the division’s better footballing sides under the leadership of Russ Penn, who took over in February 2024. The team’s success can be attributed to their solid defence, which conceded only 46 goals, making them one of the top defensive teams in the division. As AFC Telford United’s match preview states, “the West Midlands outfit’s success owes a lot to their solid defence.”
The Halesowen Town defence is anchored by captain Ryan Wynter, with experienced duo Ryan Wollacott and Jamie Willets providing strong competition at centre half. The team’s full backs, Ben Cassidy and Reece Mitchell, have the ability to get up and down the pitch, providing width and support to the team’s attacks. Behind the defence is former Buck Daniel Platt, who has made a record 336 appearances for Halesowen Town and has kept 14 clean sheets this season.
In midfield, Penn’s team is anchored by Josh Smile, who dictates the play from deep, with the energetic Todd Parker providing drive and tenacity. The team’s regular front three of McKauley Manning, Conor Tee, and Kieren Donnelly have been in excellent form, scoring 43 of the team’s 65 league goals this season. Donnelly, who scored Halesowen’s equaliser against AFC Telford United on Easter Monday, is the division’s third deadliest marksman.
AFC Telford United will be looking to utilise their home advantage, having finished the season with the division’s best home record, accumulating 45 points from 21 games. As AFC Telford United’s match preview notes, “the Bucks have gone 14 games unbeaten at the SEAH Stadium and haven’t lost on home soil since a 3-1 defeat to Kettering Town on 12 November.” The team will be hoping to call upon the division’s most dangerous forward, Matty Stenson, who bagged 31 league goals this campaign.
The winners of Wednesday’s semi-final will face either Kettering Town or Harborough Town on bank holiday Monday. As the AFC Telford United’s match preview states, “both sides head into Wednesday’s playoff semi-final on the back of long unbeaten runs – Penn’s men are unbeaten in 13 with the Bucks’ run stretching to 16 games without defeat.”
In conclusion, Wednesday’s playoff semi-final match between AFC Telford United and Halesowen Town promises to be an exciting and closely contested match. With both teams having similar records and form, it will be a tough challenge for either side to emerge victorious. As AFC Telford United’s match preview notes, “the match will be a big boost for the Bucks given that Kevin Wilkin’s men finished with the division’s best home record.”
For matchday information and ticketing details, please refer to AFC Telford United’s official website.
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