Telford 0 Birmingham 3 - Report and pictures

A pair of sublime strikes from Wes McDonald and Ronan Hale preluded a scrappy goal from substitute Alex Jones.

It condemned the Bucks to a deserved defeat in which Dan Preston was also sent off late on.

The first chance of the game went to the home side, after Dwayne Samuels played a lofted ball into the box.

Dave Hibbert took down brilliantly on his chest, before hitting an acrobatic volley just wide of the far post.

It was the visitors who took the lead though just after the 10-minute mark.

Wes McDonald cleverly weaved his way past Samuels on the edge of the area and spectacularly curled the ball into the top corner.

Hibbert came close to levelling the scores shortly after for Telford but they soon found themselves 2-0 down to the youngsters through another sublime strike.

Ronan Hale unleashed a thunderbolt into the top corner, which Bucks keeper James Montgomery had no chance of getting to.

Assistant Larry Chambers, who took charge in the absence of Rob Smith, would no doubt have been disappointed with his side's slow start.

They had their moments in attack, including a Lucas Dawson free-kick which forced a decent save from the Blues' Jake Weaver but, ultimately, they were second best in the opening period.

Before the break, Hale could have got his second, and the visitors' third, after being given too much space in the box but he shot narrowly wide.

Neither side made any changes at half-time and the visitors' prowess going forward continued.

Hale, a menace throughout for Bucks centre-half pairing Gianuca Havern and Dan Preston, had two openings.

The first saw him break past Preston before being pulled back for a free-kick, which was blocked, and the second was a fine strike which hit the post.

Tom Peers went close to pulling one back for Telford but chances were few and far between and they were deservedly 3-0 down just after the hour mark.

The Bucks defence fell asleep as Birmingham took a short corner. Substitute Jones was found in the box and he had the time and space to poke home.

Then it all turned a little sour. Wes Harding's run was brought to an abrupt halt via a late, heavy sliding challenge from Preston.

The visiting players were incensed and Preston was shown a red card by the referee, to the dismay of the home supporters.

Telford made a number of changes - Ben Bailey, Michael Monaghan, Micah Evans, Tom Edge and unnamed trialist all came on - but none could spark them back into the life.

They will be keen to forget this one, and quickly, with the National League North season starting against AFC Fylde next weekend.