AFC Telford 1 Harrogate Town 5 - Report and pictures

The Bucks, who have now lost all five of their National League North home games, started this one well and took the lead through Anthony Dwyer.

Jake Wright levelled before the break, though, and the Bucks capitulated in the second half.

Terry Kennedy and Jack Emmett netted either side of a George Thomson brace for the away side, and Connor Johnson was sent off for Telford after two bookings.

Analysis

Telford seemed in for a tough test as the visitors had registered a whopping 24 goals in their nine games prior to this one but were without Simon Ainge, who is 2017's most prolific striker in the top six divisions having scored 31 goals, as he has just had a groin operation.

The Bucks made one change to the line-up that started the 2-0 victory at Nuneaton Town on Tuesday as midfielder Jordan Lussey, who did not feature at Liberty Way due to an illness, came in for Louis McGrory.

New signing Jordan Murphy, a striker formerly of Walsall, was among the substitutes.

In the previous fixtures at the New Bucks Head, Telford started off slowly and conceded early goals.

They began brightly this time around, though, with Elliot Newby really troubling the away side down the left and everyone closing the ball down quickly.

And he had the Bucks' first effort of note, heading just over the bar after Ross White's cross.

Harrogate looked nervous while Rob Edwards' side appeared confident - and they went ahead in the 20th minute.

Dwyer reacted sharpest after Shane Sutton's header was blocked, squeezing the ball in from a couple of yards out for his fourth goal of the season.

It was a deserved lead, but it only lasted six minutes. In similar fashion to Telford's opener, a corner was played to the far post, where the ball was headed back across goal by Thomson for Wright to nod in from close range.

A bit of frustration set in for the hosts following the leveller, with Jordan Gough picking up a booking for obviously tripping Wright over.

Then it all settled down a bit as the half drew to a close.

Neither team made a change at the break and Harrogate won a series of free-kicks early in the second period.

And it was after one of those set pieces that they went in front.

In the 55th minute, Leesley's curling delivery from the right was glanced in by Kennedy.

The Bucks then nearly conceded another soon after as Jordan Thewlis' powerful shot was palmed away by Jas Singh.

Edwards' outfit were losing the midfield battle, and he made a switch in the 65th minute as Jon Royle replaced Lussey.

Murphy was brought on at the same time for his Telford debut, in place of Marcus Dinanga.

Those substitutions did not have the desired effect, though, as the Bucks crumbled during the closing stages.

Thomson made it 3-1 with a fantastic strike, drilling the ball into the corner past Singh, and soon helped himself to a second.

Things went from bad to worse for Edwards' men as the naive Johnson was sent off after swiftly picking up two yellow cards.

And then Harrogate proceeded to rub salt into Telford's wounds as Emmett added a fifth before the final whistle.

The Bucks completely fell apart.

Key Moments

20 - GOAL! Telford take the lead through Anthony Dwyer. Jordan Lussey's in-swinging corner is met by skipper Shane Sutton, whose header is blocked on the line before Dwyer nets on the rebound.

26 - Goal! Harrogate equalise through Jake Wright. Joe Leesley's corner to the back post is headed back across goal by George Thomson and Wright is there to convert. Pretty similar to the Bucks' goal.

55 - Goal! Another goal after another set piece, and it is the visitors with it. Leesley curls in a free-kick from the right and Terry Kennedy heads in.

70 - Telford's Connor Johnson is booked for a late challenge.

73 - Goal! It is 3-1 to Harrogate. Thomson weaves his way past Jordan Gough and drills the ball into the corner. Great strike.

75 - Goal! The visitors get another, through Thomson again. This time, he taps home from close range.

79 - RED CARD! Another poorly-timed challenge sees Johnson get a second yellow card, and a red.

85- Goal! A fifth for Harrogate. Jack Emmett bursts through and finishes after his initial attempt was saved by Jas Singh.

Teams

Telford (3-5-2): Singh; Sutton (c), Johnson, Gough; White, Lussey (Royle, 65), Cowans, Marsden (McGrory, 80), Newby; Dinanga (Murphy, 65), Dwyer

Subs not used: Marsh, Martinez (gk)

Harrogate (4-4-2): Belshaw; Fallowfield (Day, 77), Kennedy, Burrell, Parker (c); Thompson, Falkingham, Emmett, Leesley (Burdett, 77); Thewlis (Morgan, 71), Wright

Subs not used: Middleton, Cracknell (gk)