AFC Telford 5 FC United 1 - Report and pictures

Rob Smith's side are within goal difference of escaping the drop zone after their third win against their Manchester opponents this term in a bizarre game which saw FC United use three goalkeepers and reduced to 10 men before half-time.

The game turned in the 27th minute when FC United keeper David Carnell went off injured, and then when his replacement between the sticks, winger Sam Madeley, was sent off for bringing down Connor McCarthy a minute before the break.

By then John Cofie had put the Bucks ahead on 40 then Lucas Dawson doubled their lead from the spot, then Dave Hibbert (48) and Dwayne Samuels (79) 4-0 before George Thomson (82) reduced the arrears only for sub Sean Clancy to restore their four-goal cushion two minutes from time.

FC United threatened first after six minutes when Tom Greaves got free in the box but thumped a low angled shot wide of the far post.

Telford survived another scare on 17 when Madeley sent lefty back Chris Chantler clear for a shot which he dragged narrowly wide.

The Bucks' first real threat arrived a minute later when Cofie's thunderous volley from 22 yards flew straight at Carnell, who gathered at the second attempt.

And that signalled the start of Telford getting on top even before Carnell was forced off.

Jordan Wynter somehow blazed over an open goal from two yards out on 22 from a cross by Connor McCarthy.

A minute later Carnell limped off after seemingly hurting his groin, and with no substitute keeper, Madeley went in goal and striker Craig Lindfield went on for Carnell.

The onus was now clearly with Telford and just before the half hour, Cofie bizarrely opted not to shoot early but delayed before cutting back on himself and was blocked after latching onto a stray pass from Harry Winter.

The loose ball dropped for Wynter, but his effort was also blocked as the visitors looked to protect Madeley.

Rob Smith's side kept their foot to the floor and on 32 Curtis Tilt's deflected effort was held by Madeley as it drifted wide when Hibbert won two headers at the far post.

Madeley was suddenly inspired and twice denied the clean-through McCarthy on 34 minutes.

The goal Telford had been threatening duly arrived when Cofie adjusted his feet well to volley home left-footed from 15 yards after Hibbert hooked the ball back into the danger area when United partly cleared Dawson's free kick.

And it wasn't long before the Bucks doubled their lead, albeit there was more than a touch of farce about it.

Madeley was sent off for rugby-tackling McCarthy as they scrambled for the loose ball near the line after Hibbert's shot was parried.

It left United having to find a third keeper before half-time, and it was centre back Luke Ashworth who was next to don the gloves, and substitute Tom Eckersley replaced Sam Sheridan to fill Ashworth's slot at the back.

Ashworth dived the correct way but was beaten by Dawson's sidefooted effort from the spot.

Not surprisingly given the drama, there was six minutes of time added on and plenty of time for Hibbert to turn on to Cofie's short pass but Ashworth smothered his low drive.

Hibbert might have been unfortunate on that occasion but he made no mistake with the first chance following the restart to give Telford the perfect start to the second half.

The former Shrewsbury striker found the corner of the net with a first-time, sidefooted effort after McCarthy teed him up from Samuels's cross.

With the points in the bag, Telford relaxed and efforts from Wynter from long-range then Samuels from close in were blocked.

Just after the hour FC United defender Lewis Lacy remarkably escaped becoming their second sending off after dragging down McCarthy as last man, instead being booked.

But Telford suffered a jittery spell which saw them come under pressure as Lacy's glancing header beat keeper Harry Burgoyne and also the far post from Thomson's free kick, before the on-loan Wolves shotstopper tipped a set-piece from the latter around the post.

The Bucks returned to the attack and sub Eusebio Bancessi started and finished a move that saw his sliding attempt held by Ashworth.

And the hosts removed any doubt about where the points were headed when Samuels crashed home a fierce angled shot after being set up by Dawson on the overlap down the right.

The visitors grabbed a consolation when Thomson latched on to a through ball and coolly drew Burgoyne before casually slotting home.

But Telford restored their four-goal cushion on 88 when Clancy slid in to steer it past Ashworth left-footed after Bancessi waited for just the right moment to cross to the far post.

Telford might have had a slice of fortune but it's been long overdue and they made their own luck on a night where they enjoyed some welcome rub of the green.

AFC Telford United (4-3-3): Burgoyne 7; Samuels 7, Hutchison 7, Tilt 8, Campion 7; Dawson 8, Wynter 7 (Tonks 82), Rea 7 (Clancy 77, 7); COFIE 8, Hibbert 7 (Bancessi 65, 6), McCarthy 7.

Subs not used: Reid, Grogan.

FC United (4-3-3): Carnell (Lindfield 27); Brownhill, Lacy, Ashworth, Chantler; Kay, Winter, Sheridan (Eckersley 44); Thomson, Greaves (Daniels 65), Madeley.

Subs not used: Brown, Thurston.

Referee: Ben Cooke.

Attendance: 1,323.