Telford's Rob Smith pleased with Hibbert goal
AFC Telford boss Rob Smith is delighted striker David Hibbert has managed to get his first league goal of the season for the Bucks.
The experienced forward wrapped up tonight's 2-0 home win over Stalybridge Celtic four minutes from time with a clinical finish.
It came after Tom Peers, who scored on Saturday, had opened the scoring as Telford picked up their first win of the season in National League North.
"I'm really pleased for Dave Hibbert, he's been our best player so far this season, and he's won everything tonight," said Smith. "He was getting frustrated as well but he's got his goal so he's off and running.
"And Peersy, a lot of people would say if he put his chances away he wouldn't be here.
"He's got to take more care in front of goal but at the end of the day he's got two on the bounce now.
"His hard work gets him in positions and it was a good finish."
Telford were unable to make the breakthrough in a frustrating first half at New Bucks Head, despite dominating the visitors led by former Telford boss Liam Watson.
"I thought both halves were pretty similar," said Smith. "Without playing unbelievably well, we've created a lot of chances.
"But you could see we were getting really nervous and just before half-time there's a lot of anxiety stepping in.
"I just said at half-time we need to relax here. We haven't played great but we've created a lot of chances.
"Surely we'll create more in the second half and that's how it went, and fortunately we put them away.
"Everyone's anxious to get that first win under your belt and the longer it goes on the more anxious you get. Thankfully we've got it now."
Celtic were happy to kick the ball long and rely on set-pieces, but Smith was eager not to get sucked in to that style of play.
"We said before the game we don't want to go long ball, we want to try and play," said Smith. "But there's always a danger they can nick one and you just think at nil-nil if you don't defend one throw-in, one corner, you know what's going to happen with Liam's teams.
"They're so efficient at that sort of thing, but I thought we defended brilliantly. Dwayne (Samuels) is really struggling with an injury, and the whole back four was awesome."
