AFC Telford 0 Aston Villa 4 - Report and pictures

In what promised to be a challenging test for the new-look Bucks, a strong Villa squad put Telford to the sword with ruthless finishing at New Bucks Head.

Two goals within the first 10 minutes of the second period killed the game as a contest following Villa’s narrow lead at the break.

With Villa boss Steve Bruce in attendance, a packed out away following in the Frank Nagington Stand watched on in glorious summer conditions.

A healthy visiting line-up included skipper for the night Gabby Agbonlahor, while first-teamers Albert Adomah, Nathan Baker, Henri Lansbury and Jordan Veretout with former Premier League stalwart Chris Samba looking to impress on trial.

Bucks trialists Jordan Evans and Aaron Hayden were involved from the off.

The Championship side began the brighter, with Jordan Gough clearing from the line after Andre Green's driven cross and Keinan Davis heading over the top inside 10 minutes.

It wasn't completely one-way traffic, as John Marsden dragged a 20-yard sighter wide of Sarkic Matija's goal.

Villa fans breathed a sigh of relief as Adomah felt the wrath of a firm Shane Sutton challenge but recovered to his feet after a lengthy pause. But the forward was unable to continue and trudged off.

Baker was withdrawn moments later after succumbing to an early knock.

The lively Green was inches away from an opener on the half hour mark as he beat Ross White before cracking the Telford crossbar from inside the area.

Matija was forced into a first bit of work as Elliot Newby's fierce drive from the edge of the box was palmed away.

On 37 minutes the hosts were behind. Villa's lead owed to a huge slice of fortune as Green's deflected effort cannoned into sub Callum O'Hare and beyond the helpless Singh.

Davis powered beyond Gough but could only fire across goal as the visitors exerted their dominance before the break.

Telford sent on a new name at the break, with Wolves forward Aaron Collins, formerly of Newport County, one of those introduced.

Henri Lansbury doubled Villa’s lead from the spot four minutes into the second-half after Gough had hacked down Davis.

And barely five minutes later the rampant Villans made it three as Agbonlahor concerted a superb header from James Bree’s right-sided cross.

A raft of changes from both sides broke up play a little as the game approached an hour.

Frenchman Jordan Veretout should have put Villa further ahead but miscued horribly from Green’s pull-back.

Wolves’ Cameron John was another unfamiliar Telford face and he was introduced at left-back midway through the second period.

Ben Bailey’s low header was kept out by Matija after 75 minutes while O’Hare was unable to finish when put clean through as a string of changes dampened the second-half entertainment.

There remained time for Lansbury to net his second from the spot after Singh had downed Mitchell Clark.

Teams:

AFC Telford United: Singh; White (Shaw, 71), Sutton, Hayden (Hutchison, 56), Gough (Bailey, 67); Newby (John, 67), Rea (Dunbar, 45), Royle (Fitzpatrick, 61), Evans (Dwyer, 45); Marsden (Marsh, 56), Barnes-Homer (Collins, 45)

Aston Villa: Sarkic, Bree, Samba, Baker (Clarke, 27), Amavi, Adomah (O'Hare, 26), Lansbury (Pastorek, 85), Veretout (Cox, 85), Green, Agbonlahor © (Hayes, 61), Davis (Mooney, 71)

Referee: Blake Antrobus

Attendance: 1,865