Leamington 0 AFC Telford 3 - Report and pictures

Anthony Dwyer was AFC Telford’s hero as his quickfire double on his first start helped the Bucks to a comfortable 3-0 win at Leamington, writes Lewis Cox at The Phillips 66 Community Stadium.

The summer signing scored two in two first-half minutes and was dangerous throughout with Leamington unable to get to grips with Telford’s power and pace in attack.

It was Rob Edwards’ side third win in four on the road this season, where they have conceded just once. While they remain winless at the New Bucks Head, their form on the road has caught the eye.

Edwards unsurprisingly shuffled his options after the disappointing 4-1 home reversal to Bradford Park Avenue.

In came defender Jordan Gough, who has been struggling with a hip problem and Jon Royle, while Curtis Strong and Anthony Dwyer were given their first competitive start for the Bucks.

The Bank Holiday clash came too early for both Jack Rea and John Marsden, who remain sidelined.

An uninspiring opening few minutes consisted of not a lot of football as the struggling sides attempted to feed some confidence into their system.

Leamington, sitting bottom of the standing before kick-off, were desperate for a change in fortunes after losing five on the bounce following an opening day victory.

And the hosts, play-off winners in last season Southern Premier Division, clicked into gear with 10 minutes on the clock.

Boss Paul Holleran will be furious his side were not able to take advantage of handy chances going the way of Robbie Thompson-Brown, who dragged wide, before Jas Singh was down well to his left to keep out Richard Taundry’s piledriver.

Ahmed Obeng passed up the hosts’ best opening though, unmarked in the six-yard box, he scuffed a low cross onto the crossbar with Singh helpless.

The luckless Warwickshire outfit were left cursing the lack of a ruthless streak as the Bucks burst forward and buried their first opportunity of the game.

It was the beginning of a horror 120 seconds for experienced home shot-stopper Tony Breeden, who first spilled Elliot Newby’s powerful low drive after the nippy Bucks made deftly squirmed through a couple of challenges.

On hand was Dwyer, first to the rebound to help it into the unguarded net in front of the travelling faithful.

Moments later the ex-Stafford Rangers man was celebrating again. Leamington defender Jamie Hood missed his header and Dwyer powered down the right. He let fire surprisingly early, perhaps catching Breeden unaware, nonetheless the ball bounced through the goalkeeper at the near post.

The Telford faithful were delirious. Dwyer’s confidence was sky-high and he was not far from a first-half treble after lashing his powerful right-footed volley just inches above the top right corner.

The visitors’ front two pairing of Dwyer and Marcus Dinanga were working well and looking like having the signs of a promising partnership.

Leamington, who had began with the wind in their sails, were left looking hesitant and ponderous as the first period wore on. Telford could have added another before the break as midfielder Jordan Lussey lashed a strike a couple of feet wide.

Breeden, enduring the taunts of around one hundred away fans, did nothing to ease his critics by dropping a deep Lussey cross, but Telford were unable to profit.

The hosts saw a little more of the ball but only really troubled Singh’s goal as Junior English connected to a free-kick but his header flew over a cluster of team-mates.

Telford could have put it to bed midway through the second-half. Breeden this time denied Dwyer from the edge of the box but the better save came seconds later as he kept out Dinanga’s rebound.

But there was nothing the custodian could do about Telford’s third on 73 minutes. Ex-Liverpool man Lussey powered onto a loose ball outside the box to stroke a rising left-footed effort high into the far corner for his first goal in Telford white.

Dwyer was beating his markers at will either over the top or by using his powerful frame. The goalscorer released Dinanga whose strike was kept out by Breeden.

Breeden remained busy for the rampant visitors who went in search of a fourth. Dinanga had livened up in the second period and skinned his defender before sending a finish too close to the goalkeeper.

Newby, who again caught the eye, jinked beyond a tired Taundry and sent the rebound into the side netting when the pull-back was probably the correct option.

But Telford fans headed home in the glorious Bank Holiday sun more than satisfied with their side’s away day display.

Teams

Leamington (4-4-2):

Breeden ©, Taundry, Gudger, Clarke, Hood (Mace, 53), English, Thompson-Brown, Magunda, Revan (Canavan, 73), Gittings, Obeng (Bishop, 58)

Subs not used: Moore, Butterfield.

AFC Telford United (3-4-1-2):

Subs not used: Martinez (gk), Hayden, Barnes-Homer,

Referee: Scott Simpson

Attendance: 711