Sloppy defending and lacklustre finishing – two factors that were always going to make it hard for AFC Telford United to end their poor run of results in Fleetwood.

The Bucks did not play badly at Highbury Stadium, but a failure to take the chances they created and some uncharacteristic slips at the back proved costly.

Had they made the most of a dominant opening 20 minutes, Rob Smith’s side might today have been celebrating a second straight away win.

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Instead, they fell behind to a rather flukey Fleetwood opener, then made it all too easy for the hosts to add another two to maintain their 100 per cent home record against Telford.

“They took their chances when they got them, and we didn’t,” said left-back Gareth Jelleyman, who was also quick to hold his hand up and take some responsibility for the Codmen’s killer second goal.

“I don’t think we particularly embarrassed ourselves, but we can play a lot better.

“Hopefully it’s a lesson learned – we’ve got to put our chances away, shore up at the back and get ready for tomorrow’s game at home to Hinckley.

“We created quite a bit and then conceded a freak goal which seemed to knock the stuffing out of us for the rest of the half, which was not good on our behalf.

“I’ll hold my hands up for the second one – I was too easily beaten for the lad to get to the by-line and cross, and they got on the end of it.”

The Bucks had started brightly enough, and could have taken the lead as early as the second minute, when Lee Vaughan cut to the by-line but could not find any of three players waiting inside the six-yard box.

Liam Blakeman also had a gift-wrapped chance to score his second in two games when he was released by Steve Torpey just short of the half-hour.

Space opened up invitingly for the midfielder, but he under-hit his shot, which trickled harmlessly wide.

Fleetwood had offered little but suddenly found themselves in front on 29 minutes when Tom Cahill stuck out a boot to block Gavin Cowan’s clearance and watched it loop over keeper Ryan Young’s head, dropping in off the underside of the bar.

From that point, Telford rather self-imploded as the hosts dominated the rest of the half.

Cahill could – and maybe should – have had a hat-trick as he ran amok up front.

His second of the game came on 38 minutes, when Jamie Mullan floated past Jelleyman and crossed for the unmarked forward to smash in a strike from six yards.

Former TNS man Michael Wilde then floated in another inviting cross as the clock ticked round to the 45th minute, but an unmarked Cahill somehow failed to connect.

Telford had their moments in the second half as well, Andy Brown thinking he had got his side back in it when he headed in off Torpey’s corner on 53 minutes, only for the effort to be chalked off for a push.

Just moments later, Danny Carey-Bertram jinked his way into a shooting position but then failed to find the target.

Fleetwood responded by showing again exactly how to score, Sean Clancy firing through keeper Young’s legs off Jamie Milligan’s corner for the third.

Still Telford continued to create, and Brown hit the post before finally netting a slight consolation at the death.

He was brought down by keeper Danny Hurst inside the area, then dusted himself down to register from 12 yards with a clinical penalty.

“The game all hinged on the first goal, which was a complete fluke,” said reflective AFC Telford manager Smith.

“We don’t have much luck in Fleetwood and you saw that again – we created really good chances in the first half and the second half and we haven’t taken them.

“They were celebrating like they’ve won the league, but nothing is won in August after three games.”

By Chris Hudson