BASCHURCH 5-2 TELFORD TOWN U15s

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Wednesday 26th August 2026
Kick-off: 18:30
Venue: Baschurch

A PRE-SEASON REALITY CHECK FOR TELFORD

Telford Town U15s continued their preparations for the new season with another tough away fixture, this time against Baschurch.

After the intensity and energy of the previous week's 5-0 win at Wryley Juniors, this was a very different test and ultimately one that may prove every bit as useful with the start of the season approaching.

Telford travelled without Xavi, Evan and Josh and, with Baschurch without a recognised goalkeeper, the friendly spirit extended a little further than usual. Will donned the gloves for the hosts during the first half before the keepers switched at the break, with Luke playing the second 40 minutes for Baschurch and Will returning to the Telford goal.

Telford started with Luke in goal, Zami, Brad and George at the back, Charlie, Caiden, Kayden, Fin and Archie across the midfield and Harv and Bayley leading the line.

Watch the full match here or just view the highlights here.

FIRST HALF

From the opening whistle it was clear that Telford weren't quite at the levels they had reached the previous week.

Against Wryley they had been relentless, hunting the ball in packs, working in pairs and giving their opponents very little time to settle. This time the opening exchanges were far more lacklustre, with Baschurch on the front foot and Telford struggling to find their rhythm.

They weathered that early storm though and, after around ten minutes, began to settle into the game.

As the half became more even, George was particularly impressive on the left. He linked well with Kayden and repeatedly looked to drive forward when the opportunity presented itself, giving Telford an outlet from the back.

On 19 minutes Baschurch took the lead, although there was an element of misfortune about it from a Telford point of view.

A shot from just outside the area took a deflection off Fin, completely wrong-footing Luke before finding its way in off the post.

19' - Baschurch 1-0 Telford

Telford's response was almost immediate.

Just two minutes later Archie read Will's kick from goal, intercepted and quickly fed Bayley. With Will desperately trying to recover his position, Bayley took his opportunity and found the net to bring Telford level.

21' - Baschurch 1-1 Telford - Bayley

From there the remainder of the half was much more evenly contested.

Telford made changes as the half progressed, with an eye on the future they switched to a back four with Fin W replacing Zami and Ethan coming on for Archie, but neither side could find the breakthrough and the teams reached the end of the first 40 minutes level.

HALF TIME - BASCHURCH 1-1 TELFORD

SECOND HALF

The goalkeepers switched at the break, meaning Will returned to the Telford goal while Luke found himself facing his own teammates in the Baschurch goal.

Unfortunately for Telford, the second half would become a lesson in just how quickly games can get away from you when intensity drops and mistakes begin to creep in.

On 44 minutes Baschurch regained the lead.

They initially beat the Telford offside trap and, although Brad looked to have recovered the situation, his attempted clearance was blocked. With the Telford goal exposed, the loose ball fell kindly for Baschurch and they took advantage, finishing from range.

44' - Baschurch 2-1 Telford

Once again, though, Telford responded quickly.

On 48 minutes Archie and Bayley combined brilliantly down the right. Bayley was released into space and drove forward before sending the ball across goal, where Archie arrived to neatly steer it beyond Luke.

48' - Baschurch 2-2 Telford - Archie

At that point the game was there for either side.

What followed, however, was a difficult ten-minute spell that ultimately decided the contest.

On 49 minutes Telford were architects of their own downfall. Trying to play their way out, Ethan was dispossessed on the left. Baschurch immediately centred the ball and their striker took one touch before finishing at the near post.

49' - Baschurch 3-2 Telford

Four minutes later came arguably the goal of the game.

Kayden was dispossessed in midfield and the Baschurch striker strode forward before unleashing an unstoppable effort into the top-right corner.

53' - Baschurch 4-2 Telford

Then, on 58 minutes, Baschurch showed they were equally capable of taking the direct route.

A free kick from inside their own half was sent long over the Telford defence. The striker reacted quickest and met it first time, sending the ball into the net.

58' - Baschurch 5-2 Telford

Three goals in nine minutes had completely changed the complexion of the game.

Telford's frustration also began to show and a yellow card for ill-discipline resulted in one player spending eight minutes on the sidelines - another useful lesson with competitive football just around the corner.

To their credit, Telford didn't fold.

They continued trying to play and fashioned opportunities of their own, only to find a familiar face standing in their way. Luke produced a number of saves against his own teammates as Telford looked for a route back into the game.

There were also opportunities from corners late on, with Telford finally beginning to cause Baschurch problems from set pieces, but they couldn't quite find the finishing touch.

The goals never came and Baschurch saw out the remainder of the game.

FULL TIME - BASCHURCH 5-2 TELFORD TOWN

Not Telford's best performance of pre-season, but potentially one of the most useful.

There was no Man of the Match with this being a friendly and this was very much a game to learn from rather than one to dwell on.

The contrast with the previous week was noticeable. Against Wryley, Telford's intensity had been one of the biggest features of the performance. They hassled opponents, hunted the ball in pairs and worked relentlessly for each other.

Against Baschurch those same qualities were there only in spells.

When Telford settled and moved the ball they showed they could cause their opponents problems, while George's performance on the left and some of the combinations going forward were definite positives.

But the second half also demonstrated how quickly a game can turn. Baschurch were ruthless during a nine-minute spell and punished Telford for losing possession, leaving space and failing to deal with the more direct threat.

Telford found themselves under considerably more pressure during the second half, with Baschurch taking full advantage whenever mistakes or space presented them with an opportunity.

Five goals conceded doesn't tell the whole story, just as five goals scored at Wryley didn't tell the whole story the previous week.

That's exactly what pre-season is for.

If last week's performance showed the lads the levels they are capable of reaching, this one was a reminder that those levels have to be earned every week. Intensity, pressing, communication and working for the player alongside you can't simply be switched on because it happened in the previous game.

There can be no resting on laurels.

Another 80 minutes in the legs, another test, plenty for the coaching staff to work with - and perhaps, with the new season getting ever closer, a timely reminder of the standards this group needs to set itself.