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AFC Telford United 0-2 York City

AFC Telford have a proverbial mountain to climb in next week's second-leg if they are to reach the Final after York secured a 2-0 first-leg advantage.
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Telford, severely depleted by injuries and unavailabilities, were forced to revert back to a 5-3-2 formation with Indy Khela brought in at centre-half and Andy Brown partnering Lee Moore in attack. The Bucks made a poor start, however, as a short-corner routine set up Simon Rusk to fire inside Ryan Young's near-post on 10 minutes. A long-range effort from Richard Brodie forced Young to tip over the crossbar on 35 minutes, but in truth there were few other clear chances in the first-half for either side as Telford struggled to settle.

York should have extended their lead just before the hour-mark, Daniel McBreen blasting over the crossbar after Young had parried Rusk's shot, but the visitors did have a two-goal advantage on 67 minutes when Ben Purkiss steered into the corner of the net following a long-throw from the City left. Telford's chances of getting back into the tie weren't helped on 72 minutes. Moore converted into the empty net after York goalkeeper Michael Ingham collided with his own defender and dropped a high ball into the box, but to everyone's surprise the referee awarded a foul on the goalkeeper and the chance was gone. That deemed to deflate Telford and York could have increased their lead further in the closing stages. Young made a good save to deny McBreen on 74 minutes and, although Brown's header from Naylor's cross forced a smart save from Ingham almost immediately, the visitors continued to look dangerous with Onome Sodje firing narrowly wide in injury-time.

Telford's hopes of reaching the Trophy Final have been severely damaged by this defeat but the Bucks will look to the legendary events at Harrow Borough 26 years ago for inspiration when they head to York next Saturday. Then, Telford trailed 2-0 from the first-leg and went a goal down early in the second-leg before coming back to win 5-3 after extra-time. If the current side can repeat that feat at the Kit Kat Crescent next week, they'll create a new legend of their own.

AFC Telford United: 1. Ryan Young, 2. Jimmy Turner, 3. James Meredith, 4. Gavin Cowan, 5. Stuart Whitehead (c), 6. Indy Khela, 7. Jon Adams, 8. Carl Rodgers, 9. Liam Blakeman, 10. Andy Brown, 11. Lee Moore. SUBS: 12. Steve Jagielka, 14. Martyn Naylor (for Turner 64), 15. Simon Forsdick (for Meredith 82), 16. Scott Embury, 17. Dean Williams (GK)

Referee: Mr S. Cook (Woking)

Attendance: 2792