Andy Brown in action

It was, simply, four-midable. There is something about the FA Cup that draws out the best in AFC Telford United – and long may it continue.

This was the Bucks playing as close to the peak of their powers as we have seen them in months.

Smooth, swift and clinical, they blew Blyth Spartans away – and any watching Lincoln City scouts will have gone away with plenty to ponder ahead of the first round proper a week on Saturday.

It might have been the perfect night for Telford but for injuries to Chris Nurse and Gavin Hurren – not to mention the dismissal of assistant manager Larry Chambers after an astonishing touchline flashpoint that also saw Spartans No 2 Adam Sadler sent from the technical area.

In fact, the home side’s evening could hardly have got off to a worse start as they lost new signing Nurse less than 10 minutes into his home debut.

He went down clutching his hamstring and hobbled off the field as soon as play stopped. But his loss was Liam Blakeman’s gain, the midfielder getting an unexpectedly early opportunity to try and force his way back into the side.

Blakeman certainly made the most of the chance, firing Telford in front on 24 minutes with an excellent strike from the edge of the box after good approach play from Tom Field.

“I was just getting ready for my normal 60 minutes on the bench,” he joked. I was all wrapped up when Nursey went down so I had to come on.

“The gaffer told me to go on and take my chance because I’ve hardly played for a few weeks, and hopefully I’ve shown what I can do.

“I heard the crowd shout ‘shoot’ like they normally do so I just let one fly, and I was made up that it went in the bottom corner.”

It was a goal that also allowed Telford to settle, and they began to pass the ball around with a swagger missing for much of this season.

The result was that the Spartans defence was stretched all over the place, and Andy Brown, in particular, almost capitalised – twice having shots blocked and scrambled away before the break.

Blyth, by contrast, were toothless in attack and relied on long-range efforts.

Gareth Williams and Josh Gillies both went close from distance, but Telford still posed the greater threat.

That pattern continued after the break and it was no surprise when Phil Trainer lashed in a second goal just past the hour mark – pouncing on Brown’s flick-on while Blyth were down to 10 men with left-back John Brackstone off the pitch receiving treatment.

Blyth were incensed at the delay in getting Brackstone back on, and the incident quickly escalated as 20 of the 22 players waded into a melee in front of the Telford bench – only Telford keeper Ryan Young and Blyth man Gillies staying out of it.

Just as that had been diffused, it all started again as Blyth assistant Sadler appeared to get involved with a member of the Telford crowd behind his dugout.

Referee Scott Ledger sent Sadler back to the dressing room then ordered Chambers off the touchline too, for his part in the bust-up.

Fortunately, Telford let their football do the talking on the pitch – and were rewarded with two more late goals.

Both came for Brown, the first an exquisite finish after substitute Steve Thompson had burst through the middle on the counter-attack.

And his second was an awesome half-volley from 30 yards that almost burst the net.

It was a fitting finale to a fine evening’s entertainment, and ensured Chambers had plenty to reflect on with satisfaction.

“It was probably our best performance of the season and it was nice to play like that at home again,” he said.

“Without being disrespectful to Blyth, the way the game went we could have scored more really.

“It was nice for Browny to get two goals because he’s worked hard this season without getting his rewards.”

Telford’s reward is another crack at Football League opposition.

On this showing, Lincoln should be worried.

By Chris Hudson