By Chris Hudson

It’s official! At long last, one of the FA Cup’s most notorious giantkillers are back in business.

Time was when the very name of Telford would strike fear into the hearts of so-called ‘bigger’ clubs up and down the country.

That fearsome reputation has taken a dent since AFC Telford United rose from the ashes of the old club four-and-a-half years ago.

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But Rob Smith’s class of 2008 now look ready to assume the mantle after reaching the first round proper for the first time – and didn’t they just do it in style.

A visit from League One promotion hopefuls Southend was the prize on offer for the winner of last night’s big clash at the Marston’s Arena, but Northwich Victoria never looked like taking the spoils.

Ever since the chaotic scenes of Saturday, when a power failure forced the abandonment, justice had to prevail.

Northwich had led 1-0 when the game was called off at the weekend, but Telford had already shown enough to suggest they could live with their higher-ranked hosts from the Blue Square Premier.

The Vics had to guarantee the FA they would be able to fulfil the fixture this time around, but the will-they-won’t-they saga went on all morning on Monday before confirmation came.

And there was more doubt last night as the floodlights went out yet again twice at around 6pm.

Spectators were made to wait until 7pm before the game was finally given the green light and the stadiums’ turnstiles were thrown open.

Fans from both sides showed they could see the funny side as torches and high-visibility vests were the must-have fashion accessories on the terraces.

All the inconvenience and frustration must have felt worthwhile, though, for those Telford fans who made the return journey, as they saw their side storm to a thoroughly deserved victory.

Boss Rob Smith’s 4-5-1 formation worked a treat, the three-man midfield starving Northwich of possession while wide men Lee Moore and Martyn Naylor got forward at will to support lone striker Andy Brown.

The opener had a touch of luck about it, Vics keeper Scott Tynan guilty of a bit of a howler to let Moore’s connection to Naylor’s deep cross squirm under his body and trickle over the line.

The hosts were also masters of their own downfall as Telford doubled the lead just before half-time.

Steve Jagielka’s long ball forward should have been routine for defender Simon Grand to clear, but he only managed to weakly chest it into the path of Brown.

Keeper Tynan was exposed and came rushing out before diving desperately and bringing the striker down for a penalty.

Tynan escaped with a yellow card when a red might have been justified, but the former Nuneaton forward at least despatched the penalty safely to give his side some breathing space.

They continued to dominate in the second period too, Jagielka curling a shot just over as the pressure grew. Northwich might have had a lifeline just past the hour as loan man Peter Winn worked himself into a good position but fired into the side-netting.

That looked an expensive miss soon after as the Bucks duly added a third with a sweeping move on the counter-attack.

Liam Blakeman won possession with a well-timed tackle on the edge of his own box and slipped the ball onto Jagielka.

He picked out the run of Moore, and the winger rounded Tynan before finding the target from a narrow angle.

Moore might even have had a hat-trick in injury-time, being gifted an opportunity from the penalty spot after substitute Terry Fearns was tripped by Michael Welch.

But, where Brown had earlier succeeded, Moore failed as Tynan dived to his right to save.

It mattered not. Telford were full value for their win and can now turn their attention to bidding for a far bigger upset at home to Southend.

On this showing, you would be a fool to bet against them.