Shropshire Star

FC United of Manchester 1 Telford 3 - Report and pictures

[gallery] AFC Telford United might have been late arriving for this game - but there was nothing but fast and furious play from them here.

Published

Boss Rob Smith has demanded effort, commitment and passion and he got it in spades as goals from Sean Clancy on 20 minutes and Robert Paratore on 40 helped them to an overdue first away win of the season.

Dave Hibbert's 85th minute header sealed Telford's first away win since April 18 at Altrincham after six losses on the road this season after Tom Greaves (74) halved the deficit.

Telford's late arrival due to traffic for their first ever trip to United's brand new purpose-built Broadhurst Park meant a 30-minute delay to kick off.

It wasn't the best preparation for a side seeking their first away points of the campaign after six straight defeats on the road.

But the way they tore at the hosts from virtually the first whistle made you whether they need to do this every week.

Telford have been playing with this tempo and commitment for a while now, so their three-match unbeaten run going into this game was no fluke.

It meant that they went into this game in the rare position of being in better league form than their opponents, who had lost five on the spin in National League North.

So close! Conor McCarthy reacts after narrowly failing to give Telford the lead.

And there were signs of confidence being hit in the home ranks - as well as perhaps minds being on Saturday's FA Cup first round proper tie at home to League One Chesterfield.

But to dwell on that would be doing Telford a massive disservice, as it was a pleasure to watch the way their pressure on the ball seemed to genuinely catch United unawares.

United had the first half chance in the opening minute but centre back Nia Bayunu headed a few feet over from one of numerous Sam Sheridan first half set-pieces.

But soon Telford gave warning of their intentions as captain Paul McCone was inches wide with a header after Dave Hibbert's cross shot bounced off keeper Dave Carnell with six minutes gone.

Darren Campion sent a cross shot flying across the face of goal after Sean Clancy cleverly lifted the ball over a defender.

Then came a blistering period of Telford attacking from which they deservedly took the lead as United couldn't live with their furious tempo.

Hibbert's shot was parried by Carnell, who then did superbly to block Clancy's follow-up.

Goal! Dave Hibbert beats FC United keeper Dave Carnell to the ball to make it 3-1 to Telford.

Mathew Wolfenden summed up the no-holds-barred commitment from both sides when he was booked for going through high on Jake Hibbs in the 16th minute in a challenge which surely would have resulted in a red card higher up the pyramid.

But it did little to stop the Telford juggernaut as Hibbert's shot on 18 was blocked by the covering Bayunu on the line with Carnell committed.

Seconds later, Hibbert glanced just wide from Clancy's cross with Carnell anxiously scampering across his goal.

But the goal the eager visitors had been threatening wasn't long in coming as Clancy got ahead of his man to volley home a sweeping diagonal ball from Dwayne Samuels from six yards out.

Telford were disrupted by the injury-enforced loss of Campion in the 29th minute after the left back crashed heavily into the advertising hoardings behind the goal, apparently damaging teeth, blood spattered on his shirt as he walked off.

Kyle Brownhill replaced Campion with Clancy dropping to left back and the sub playing the wide left role.

United had their best spell to date from the half hour onwards before Telford struck again.

But Telford refused to buckle under several corners and free kicks whipped in by Sam Sheridan on an increasingly greasy surface caused by the driving rain.

James Montgomery had to scramble away on such effort from Sheridan which bounced in front of him at the far post, then reacted smartly to tip a Tom Greaves chip over the bar.

But any hopes of a comeback were withheld as Telford grabbed a well-taken second goal in similar fashion to their first - a long ball from the right and finish in the left side of the box.

This time Paratore met Kyle Brownhill's curling free kick with a cushioned sidefoot volley which flew under Carnell.

United mounted more pressure in the build-up to the break, but with McCone and Curtis Tilt winning everything in the air and Telford showing a slick touch on the ground, they limited the hosts to a long-range effort from Sheridan which skidded wide after Liam Brownhill wriggled free to cross and McCone headed away.

Not surprisingly, the pace of the second half failed to match the first but that wasn't for the want of trying as both sides threw themselves into challenge after challenge.

United came into the game more but Telford forced the first opening - and should have scored a third goal.

This time it was McCone who rolled the ball wide of an open goal after more unconvincing goalkeeping by Carnell, who got caught in no-man's land as Hibbert chased a through ball.

Under pressure - Kyle Brownhill closes down Sam Sheridan of FC United

United threatened briefly as Sheridan flashed a 30-yard free kick just wide just after the hour.

But Telford weren't lacking in any spirit and substitute Jack Deaman, on for McCone, tried to pick his spot on 68 but curled wide from Connor McCarthy's short pass on the edge of the box.

United pulled one back 16 minutes from time when Tom Greaves bundled home from almost on the line when Montgomery missed with his punch trying to connect with a looping ball into the box.

But Telford never looked like losing this and the tireless Hibbert restored their two-goal cushion five minutes from the end of normal time after more confusion involving Carnell when he came for a long kick by Montgomery, never made it, and the big striker's header trickled into the empty net.

It was no more than the the brave Bucks deserved.

FC United of Manchester (4-1-4-1): Carnell; Wright, Bayunu, Ashworth, L Brownhill; Stott; Lindfield (Fallon 65), Sheridan, Daniels (Madeley 78), Wolfenden (Patterson HT); Greaves.

Subs not used: Byrne, Thurston.

Telford (4-4-2): Montgomery 7; Samuels 7, McCone 8 (Deaman 65, 6), TILT 9, Campion 7 (K Brownhill 29, 7 ); Hibbs 8, Rea 7, Paratore 7, Clancy 8; Hibbert 8, McCarthy 7.

Subs not used: Hassan, Rowe, Dawson.

Referee: Ricky Wootton.

Attendance: 2,781.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.