AFC Telford Utd 3 Burton Albion 0

Wednesday 3rd December 2008, 8:31AM GMT.

Lee Moore is brought down by Burton defender Scott McCubbin for United’s penaltyMatch report by Chris HudsonIt may not yet have totally captured the public imagination, but AFC Telford United are really starting to enjoy the Setanta Shield. Crowds are still to top the 1,000 mark, but the Bucks have produced some of their most entertaining football in this competition.

Cambridge were beaten by the odd goal in seven in a third-round thriller, and Blue Square Premier leaders Burton Albion were demolished last night.

camera_ss4.gifSee our Bucks v Burton photo gallery here

Burton boss Nigel Clough included just one player from the starting line-up that beat Eastbourne Borough 2-0 on Saturday.

But the Bucks could only beat the side in front of them – and they did it with no little panache.

They got off to a dream start as Danny Carey-Bertram maintained his prolific form with a goal in the sixth minute.

Carey-Bertram’s strike-rate has been of the jaw-dropping variety since his move from Bath City, and this effort took his tally to six from just five starts and two substitute appearances – and there was still more to come.

Burton are not top of the Blue Square Premier for no reason though, and it took a well-timed goal-line clearance from James Meredith to keep out Paris Simmons’ effort from a narrow angle.

The Bucks doubled their lead from the penalty spot after a needless foul on Lee Moore by Scott McCubbin, a former Chelsea trainee making his Burton debut.

Andy Brown stepped up to convert the resulting spot-kick, his pause in his run-up deceiving keeper Saul Deeney, who dived too early and allowed the striker to stroke the ball into the opposite corner.

The hosts were well worth their lead, and could have added to it before the break – Blakeman weaving his way through a compact defence but not testing Deeney, then Brown flashing a shot just over.

Burton had to improve and, as the second half began, suggested briefly they could.

Former Shrewsbury man Jody Banim drew a fingertip save out of Bucks No 1 Ryan Young in a rare sight of goal for the visitors.

Telford were soon taking the game back to their higher-ranked opponents though, and added a third just past the hour.

Blakeman played Brown in with a cute ball and it took a good save from Deeney to deny him.

A defender attempted to clear the loose ball but succeeded only in scuffing it to Brown, who promptly set up Carey-Bertram to bag goal No 7 for the club.

Brown was replaced by Terry Fearns soon after, and he could have got on the scoresheet himself after running onto a superb pass from fellow substitute Jon Adams only to go down under a challenge from Shaun Harrad.

The resulting free-kick from 20 yards was blasted straight at the keeper by Steve Jagielka.

Fearns had an even better chance eight minutes from time but shot wide from the edge of the area after latching onto a long ball.

He then turned provider with a perfectly-weighted cross as Carey-Bertram missed the chance to complete a deserved hat-trick.

Still, the Bucks are now through to the last four of the northern section – and just two games away from an historic cup final.

The Setanta Shield may be low on the priority list, but there’s no denying Telford are high on confidence and form.


  1. 1
    Jamie

    Can’t get away from the fact it was a great display from Telford – but it was Burton’s reserve team. Even Nigel Clough was on the bench!!

    Report abuse



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