AFC Telford 1 Fleetwood 4 - Match analysis

http://youtu.be/KHzlRvpVw5w

In a week when AFC Telford United reaffirmed its community ownership values, millionaires Fleetwood Town showed the power of money in football.

Boss Andy Sinton conceded that his Bucks had come up against 'the best team in the league' after they were brushed aside by the big-spending table-toppers.

United were not humiliated – 10 others have fallen by three goals or more against The Cod Army this season.

• See pictures from Telford's defeat to Fleetwood

But the gulf in class was evident even before Andy Mangan had given the visitors a fourth minute lead.

A thrashing looked on the cards when the same man made it 2-0 after 15 minutes.

But Telford rallied in the second half and even threatened a comeback before Jamie Vardy – the striker Sinton hailed 'the best player in the league' – killed the contest with a brace of his own.

Those goals took Vardy's season tally to 30 and it was blindingly obvious why the 25-year-old has been linked with Premier League clubs.

Supported by the excellent Lee Fowler, Peter Cavanagh and Mangan, Fleetwood were simply too fast and too good for Telford.

Chairman Lee Carter – who spoke last week about being a 'wholly-owned community football club' – must surely have cast an envious glance at Fleetwood's resources.

The Bucks harried and jostled. Their efforts earned healthy applause at the final whistle.

But too many times the ball was fired long to a frustrated Kyle Perry, gifting Fleetwood the monopoly of midfield.

Telford set up with five across the middle, Chris Sharp dropping back into the wide right position.

Sinton stressed the need to keep things tight early on.

How frustrated he must have been when Vardy strolled past left back debutant Steve Kinniburgh and picked out Mangan for the opener from 10 yards before some had even taken their seats.

It was a torrid start to the former Rangers youth player's time at Telford since signing non-contract terms.

A difficult task became nigh on impossible on 15 minutes when Richard Brodie's header came back off the bar and Mangan poked home from close range.

Fleetwood were producing all the football and neat interchanges, though Telford did come close when Chris Blackburn stooped to head a Jonathan Brown free-kick just wide.

Vardy then stuck the bottom of the post after being given too much room in the box.

"That could be the turning point," said one optimistic fan behind the press bench.

And maybe things could have been different if Marlon Jackson's 32nd minute hooked goal from a Perry flick-on had not been ruled offside. There could only have been inches in it.

Tempers flared at the end of the half and referee Peter Bankes was given a Sinton ear-bashing as he head for the tunnel.

The second half was a scrappier affair, which in truth helped Telford.

Goalkeeper Ryan Young did well to save from Vardy, and even better to twice thwart substitute Peter Till.

Set pieces have been Fleetwood's only Achilles heel this season and looked like Telford's only way back in.

Kinniburgh drew a decent save from 30 yards before Telford's unlikely lifeline.

The referee initially awarded a penalty for a foul by Steve McNulty on Brown but, with the ball on the spot, changed his mind and gave a free-kick on the edge of the area after consulting with the linesman.

It mattered not, though, as Brown curled home a wonderful free-kick.

But just as belief rose around The New Bucks Head, Vardy turned on the style.

The £1m-rated ace powered between Blackburn and Preston on 82 minutes before thrashing past Young at the near post.

And Vardy gave the scoreline a gloss in injury time when he latched onto a Till through ball, went past Preston too easily and beat Young.

The defeat saw Telford drop into 17th position.

But if Fleetwood are 'the Manchester City of the Conference' then there are Wigans and Boltons ahead – and Sinton will take some solace in that.

Sean Wozencroft

See also:

• Andy Sinton feels experience is key for AFC Telford survival