A controversial red card and a magnificent free-kick sent off-colour AFC Telford United tumbling to a third defeat in four league outings.

James Meredith’s dismissal in first half injury-time – the first Bucks player to receive his marching orders this season – proved the turning point on another disappointing afternoon for the Shropshire side. 

There could be few arguments that the on-loan Shrewsbury youngster brought down Fleetwood midfielder Kieran Walmsley as he closed in on goal. 

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But the Telford anger stemmed from their claims that midfielder Jon Adams had raced back to cover so Meredith was not the last man. 

Referee Peter Bankes saw it differently and was quick to flash the red card. 

And, just to rub salt into the wounds, Fleetwood skipper Jamie Milligan then curled in a terrific set-piece from 25-yards out that gave Bucks keeper Ryan Young no chance whatsoever. 

Milligan was once a rising star in the Premier League at Everton and, while he plays to much smaller crowds these days, this was a strike that would have raised the roof at Goodison Park. 

It was a goal out of place in an opening 45 minutes that had largely been devoid of creative play at either end of the field. 

Telford had lined up in a 4-5-1 formation, Terry Fearns in the role of the lone striker. 

The system had served them well in the FA Cup against Northwich and also in the two epic first round matches against Southend. 

Yet it was doomed to fail here, with a lethargic midfield not making the forward runs necessary to give the visitors numbers in the box when they did attack. 

Danny Edwards did offer a real threat down the left-hand side but all too often he looked up to cross, only to see Fearns well guarded and precious few other options for which to aim. 

Fleetwood’s best chance had fallen at the feet of former Witton striker Adam Warlow and he should have scored off an early corner but mis-hit a shot which was deflected wide. 

The breakthrough came with Telford seemingly ready to mount another attack of their own. 

Edwards chose to pass back to left-back Meredith on the halfway line, but he was already under pressure from Walmsley and his attempted long ball forward was charged down – leaving the Fleetwood man a long run-in to the visitors’ goal. 

Meredith gave chase but, in his desperation, only succeeded in bringing the Fleetwood man down. 

From that moment events happened quickly as Mr Bankes reached for his pocket and Milligan worked his magic to leave Telford staring down the barrel of another defeat. 

Boss Rob Smith opted to introduce a second forward at the break, Danny Carey-Bertram replacing the ineffective Liam Blakeman as his depleted side switched to a more adventurous 3-4-2. 

They might have levelled early in the half as Fearns rose well to an Edwards corner but then glanced his header well wide. 

Midfielder Phil Trainer, on loan from Oxford, also drilled in a shot that seemed destined for the bottom corner until Fleetwood keeper Danny Hurst stretched out an arm to tip it around the post. 

And that spelled the start of a period of pressure from the hosts that left the Bucks on the back foot. 

Warlow had two chances to bury the game, while Michael Wilde – making his debut after joining from The New Saints – must have thought he had scored, only to see his header palmed away by the ultra-quick reflexes of an over-worked Young. 

The Bucks did come forward once more in the final 10 minutes, but it was all too little, too late and they never really threatened to register an equaliser. 

It’s a little too soon, and rather too dramatic, to start talking of a crisis just yet. 

Yet everyone at Telford knows they cannot afford too many more defeats – or they can kiss their chances of automatic promotion goodbye. 

By Chris Hudson