Vauxhall Motors 0 Bucks 1 - Match report

A better display of desire and determination you will struggle to find.

Ryan Young's 13th minute dismissal should have spelled deep trouble for AFC Telford United at Vauxhall Motors.

But the defiant Bucks found another gear and - thanks to a typical Andy Brown goal and an assured performance from substitute keeper Daniel Platt - went away with an unlikely win.

There was no luck about the result either, the visitors full value for their victory. The big talking point came as Young was ordered from the pitch for handling the ball outside his area after racing out to beat Motors' on-loan striker Obi Anorou to the ball.

Young protested his innocence, but it was a close call and the linesman was convinced as he flagged furiously.

Telford boss Andy Sinton refused to castigate the decision too, admitting his No 1 should have played safe by kicking the ball clear.

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The incident also provided early vindication for the manager's decision to sign a second goalkeeper, teenager Platt getting his debut far sooner than he might have expected.

Midfielder Jon Adams was the sacrificial lamb, and Platt made the most of his opportunity with a mature display.

Not that he was needed too much in the first half, Telford's 10 men easily proving a match for Vauxhall Motors' 11.

On-loan winger Greg Mills, already a crowd favourite, went close before the revitalised Phil Trainer saw his rocket shot ricochet off home midfielder Keith Smith.

Unstoppable

The resulting corner led to the goal, the Bucks pulling off to perfection a routine worked out on the training ground.

Mills took the set-piece, pulling the ball back to Sean Newton and his first time cross was met by an unstoppable Brown header.

The advantage might have been even greater at the break, referee Martin Rawcliffe mystifyingly denying what looked a clear penalty when Mills was bundled over by Motors right-back Chris Noone.

Platt, meanwhile, produced his first eye-catching save as he turned Tom Grice's 30-yard thunderbolt over the bar.

The impressive Liam Murray also played a part, the centre-back with a goal-saving tackle to deny Anorou.

Telford continued to show no fear after the break, as Trainer blasted into the side-netting with their best effort.

At the other end, the hosts were finally starting to find gaps as the 10 men showed signs of tiring - though they could not get past Platt.

He made a decent stop to keep out Josh Wilson's speculative long-range missile, but saved his best for the 67th minute.

That was a full length, diving stop low to his right - keeping out Anorou's header from point-blank range with a strong hand.

It was a save every bit as crucial as Brown's goal at the other end - not that the former Crewe youngster is about to get carried away.

"It was a good save but it wasn't the best moment for me," he said. "There were two of those - the goal and hearing the final whistle go."

Modesty from Platt aside, it was a save that seemed to knock the stuffing out of Vauxhall. And their frustration finally came to the boil in the closing minutes as Grice was sent off after seeming to stamp on Platt.