AFC Telford United 1-0 FC United of Manchester - Report and pictures

Analysis

After such a huge week off the pitch, Telford needed to respond with a wholehearted showing - and they did.

There were buckets around the ground for fans to hand in cash donations - Telford need to raise £25,000 by the end of the month - and boss Rob Smith and his assistant Larry Chambers engaged in a huddle with the players just before kick-off.

There were four changes from the trip to Bradford Park Avenue last weekend as Paul McCone, Jonathan Royle, Bradley Reid and Josh Wilson came in for Dwayne Samuels, Luca Havern, Jordan Sangha and Dave Hibbert.

In the first half, the Bucks were the better side but, as has so often been the case this season, they could not find the net - Bradley Reid hit the crossbar, and Josh Wilson was denied by a stunning David Carnell save.

Although the goal did not come in the first period, the home side kept pushing and rode their luck at times with United failing to put away a number of decent chances.

Connor McCarthy, who worked tirelessly as ever, was rewarded for his efforts inside the 66th minute. The ball fell into his path after a Wilson header, with the resulting shot finding the bottom corner.

Despite some pressure from the visitors in the closing stages of the game, Smith's men managed to hold out with the likes of Ben Bailey and McCone, who was making his first start after 10 months out with a severe knee injury, particularly solid at the back.

Around £2,500 was raised via the cash donations at the ground on what was an uplifting day after a difficult week.

You would like to think Telford can continue in the same vein when they visit Altrincham next weekend.

Key moments

7 - Telford sloppy at the back for a moment. An attempted clearance from goalkeeper James Montgomery drops for United's Tom Greaves but the ball somehow finds it way safely back to the Bucks shot-stopper.

8 - FC United goalkeeper David Carnell looking nervous this time. Instead of catching the ball, he heads it straight to Telford's Sean Williams, whose effort was tame.

10 - Telford are denied by the crossbar! Bradley Reid's header from around six yard out rattles the woodwork after a good cross by Williams.

34 - After a Paul McCone cross, Connor McCarthy hits a shot on the swivel but it trickles into the arms of Carnell just as Reid was looking to pounce.

39 - What a save by Carnell! Josh Wilson's glancing header after a Williams cross is superbly denied by the United goalkeeper. The ball drops to Reid but he blazes over from close range.

48 - Some great play by Harry Winter for the visitors. His cross finds the unmarked Jerome Wright, who slices the ball wide just as Telford's James Hurst looks to intervene.

53 - FC United with another good chance, and Tom Greaves hits the bar. The striker hit the ball on the volley, after Matthew Wolfenden's nice flick, and it touches the woodwork on its way out of play.

64 - Another big chance but another miss by Telford. Reid goes on a run; burst inside the box from the left but scuffs his shot high and wide.

66 - GOAL! Telford 1-0 FC United of Manchester. A long ball into the box is headed by Wilson into the path of McCarthy, who unleashes a fierce strike which flies past Carnell and into the far corner.

74 - Big chance for the visitors. Jerome Wright's reverse pass finds substitute Dale Johnson but Montgomery makes the save.

77 - A real scramble to make it 2-0, but Telford fall short. Reid is denied after Jordan Sangha's pass and then Williams fires over. The assistant referee's flag was belatedly raised.

80 - United skipper Wright is given plenty of time and space in the box but his effort goes out for a corner, which nothing comes from.

90+4 - United forward Johnson is sent off just before the final whistle for an apparent elbow on Ben Bailey.

Man of the Match

Ben Bailey - He was immense last weekend at Bradford Park Avenue and was even better in this one. Alongside the returning Paul McCone, Bailey was always there to thwart United's attackers.

Position in the table

14th (15 points from 14 games)

Teams

Telford (4-3-3): Montgomery; Hurst, Bailey, McCone, O'Hanlon; Rea (c), Royle, Williams (Crooks, 83); Reid (Reynolds, 88), McCarthy (Sangha, 75), Wilson. Subs unused: Samuels, Preston.

FC United (4-3-3): Carnell; Williams (Tonge, 45), Ashworth, Corbett, Chantler; Kay, Thomson, Winter; Wolfenden (Gilchrist, 62), Greaves (Johnson, 62), Wright. Subs unused: Eckersley, Brown.

Goal: Connor McCarthy (66)

Attendance: 1,706

Referee: Simeon Lucas