John Cofie after more champagne moments

The former Manchester United youngster has quickly become a crowd favourite at AFC Telford United after scoring three goals in his first five games.

His strike in Tuesday's 5-1 romp against FC United of Manchester helped clinch a third Man of the Match award from the sponsors, for which he earned a bottle of bubbly.

The win moved Rob Smith's side up two places to third from bottom and within goal difference of escaping the drop zone for the first time since the start of the season.

But with their chances of survival still very finely poised – and a trip to leaders Solihull Moors tomorrow – 22-year-old Cofie has handed the champers to his mother until he can toast Telford's survival.

Cofie said: "I do drink, but this is the third bottle I've won now so I go home and give it to my mom and she stashes it away!

"I'm not really a champagne drinker, so this one isn't for drinking yet."

Solihull are four points clear at the top of National League North despite losing two of their last three games, including a 6-0 thumping at Harrogate.

They haven't played yet this month, after last week's game against FC United was postponed.

Cofie believes the confidence gained from their midweek win – when they had five different scorers – has put Telford in confident mood as they prepare to take on the table-toppers.

He said: "Each goal was scored by a different player, which means the confidence spreads through the team and that can only be good for us.

"We're going to take this win into the Solihull game and, hopefully, keep that confidence for the rest of the season."

Apart from the defeat to Hednesford, Telford have played well for five of their last six games, winning three and drawing one.

And Cofie insists there is a real belief they can pull off a survival act, saying: "I thought we were really unlucky not to get the win against Fylde, so we took that performance into the United game.

"In the first 10 minutes, we pressed them really well and we created a couple of chances even before they had a man sent off.

"It's not always easy to play against 10 men but I thought we coped with it really well. You've still got to score to win and we worked really hard for each other.

"It always feels good to enjoy working hard for the team. So the confidence is high and every game we go in to, we're trying to win it and we've got to keep that going."

Cofie is convinced he can reach his 10-goal target set when he joined, adding: "I set myself a 10-goal target when I came here and that hasn't changed.

"I'm still pushing for that and try to achieve it. It's going well. I'm enjoying my football and it feels good to be wanted and to be around a bunch of players that welcome you.

"That's a massive help and it helps me on the pitch."