AFC Telford spot on to jump back into top spot - match analysis and pictures
AFC Telford United raced back to the top of the Skrill Conference North at nine-man Vauxhall Motors – and now it's the Bucks who are in pole position.
They lead the pack by two points after the weekend due to their third win in seven days, that has made all of the difference to their standing in the table.
They have jumped from fifth to first in that sequence, as their rivals have either slipped up or been rained off. While there's a lot of football to be played yet, it bodes well.
The Bucks led at half-time through two Sean Clancy penalties, before goals from Matthew McGinn and Shaun Whalley put the game to bed.
A strike in each half from Tom Hannigan and substitute Steven Tames kept Motors, who missed a spot kick of their own through Shaun Tuck, in the hunt.
The home side lost Andy Nicholas and Dan Fearnehough to second bookable offences as referee Joseph Johnson went card happy, as well as giving three penalties.
Coupled with North Ferriby United's 1-1 draw at Gloucester City, it took Liam Watson's side back to the summit for the first time since New Year's Day.
Changes had to be made to Watson's starting line-up before kick-off at Rivacre Park, with captain Simon Grand coming down with illness the night before the game.
That ruled out playing three centre-backs, as they did in the previous Tuesday night's 1-0 win at Worcester City, with Neill Byrne and Dan Preston making up a two-some.
Charlie Barnett was brought into midfield as Telford reverted back to 4-4-2, with Chris Lever coming in for McGinn at left-back.
The home side had the better of the early exchanges, with Steven Wainwright blazing over fellow full-back Louis Barnes' cross and Paul Mullin doing likewise just before.
Drama came on 17 minutes when a long ball over the top from Preston made it a straight race between Andy Owens and Nicholas in the box.
Nicholas went for the ball but missed and got Owens tangled up in his legs, bringing the Telford attacker to the ground. All eyes went towards referee Johnson.
He gave the penalty but opted to book rather than send off Nicholas, leaving Clancy to step up. It was high and powerful past Zac Jones, even if the goalkeeper had guessed correctly by diving right.
Whalley nearly helped himself to a fine solo goal in the 23rd minute after taking a touch in his own half and accelerating away from Barnes. He took on defenders for fun, but his chip landed just wide.
The penalty count was evened up on 26 minutes when Byrne bundled over Tuck in the box, who dusted himself down to take the spot kick.
Goalkeeper Ryan Young flung himself to his right and parried away Tuck's effort and Mullin couldn't direct his header from the rebound into the net, as Telford's lead stayed intact.
A third penalty went the Bucks' way on 37 minutes and saw Nicholas become the first to take an early shower for a second booking, even if Whalley went down rather cheaply under his push.
Clancy was on the spot again and went the other way, Jones again deducing correctly by diving left but to no avail, as his cool finish went under the dive of the goalkeeper.
Motors did pull one back two minutes before half-time, when captain Hannigan got away from Owens to head home and halve the deficit.
Telford had to make a change at half-time with McGinn coming on for Mike Grogan, who suffered a cut to the head before the break. Lever went into midfield, but they were still facing 10 men.
Their numerical advantage didn't seem to make much difference, although top-scorer Adam Farrell blazed over his best chance of the day after Owens broke on the left.
They did go further ahead on the hour through a belter from McGinn, who is proving a real threat in front of goal from the wide positions.
The half-time substitute set himself as Wes Baynes cross dropped and volleyed home sweetly at the far post, putting the visitors in real command.
In the wake of the goal, on came Mike Phenix for Owens, in-fitting with his role as the Bucks' super-sub. While there would be no goal here, he would make his presence felt by the end of play.
Telford boss Watson saw it as the ideal time to re-introduce player-coach Alan Moogan back into the fray on 75 minutes, for what was the midfielder's first match action in six months.
But the hosts still managed to pull it back to 3-2 with 13 minutes to go when Tames was given time and space to pick his spot, the bottom far corner of the Telford net.
An uphill struggle became a mountain to climb for Motors when Dan Fearnehough was dismissed for rolling into the back of Whalley, after an earlier booking for diving.
Phenix was denied what would have been a sixth goal from the bench this season when Jones parried away his effort, with McGinn firing the loose ball wide of the near post.
Preston was struggling with lively Motors substitute Tames, who played under Watson at Southport, and pulled him down for a needless booking. It left the stopper with a nervous last few minutes.
It was still on a knife-edge until Whalley settled matters in stoppage time, bursting through to slot home Phenix's through ball and send the Bucks back to the top.
Watson will know they made extremely hard work of it, but it was the break they needed to seize first place. With a decent run of games to come, don't bet against them staying there.
By Craig Birch
