AFC Telford v Buxton - Match report

Telford have established a proud and illustrious record as FA Cup giantkillers in years gone by.

But they got to experience the bitter taste of life on the other side of that double-edged sword last night as nine-man Buxton pulled off a huge upset in the third qualifying round.

It was no less than the Evo-Stik League premier division side deserved, taking the game to penalties with a dramatic but warranted extra-time equaliser.

Then, having played since the half hour with 10 men and for almost 40 minutes with nine, they held their nerve in the all-decisive shoot-out.

Dubious honour

In the course of the 120 minutes referee Stephen Plane awarded three penalties - two to Telford and one to Buxton - yet only one was converted.

In the shoot-out though, nine of the 10 were put away with some style, leaving former Port Vale striker James Lawrie as the Shropshire side's fall guy.

He missed the seventh spot-kick to hand the initiative to the minnows and, just moments later, it was all over.

Yet Lawrie was far from being the villain of the piece. Indeed, that is a dubious honour that should be shared by a good half dozen of the men in white.

Telford were painfully slow to get going and were not even shaken into life by Buxton taking a stunning third minute lead when Kieran Lugsden poked the ball home from a corner.

Andy Sinton's Bucks looked flustered and hardly created a chance of note until they were handed a lifeline just short of the half hour when Adam Proudlock was brought down from behind in the box by Buxton's hero-turned-villain Gregg Anderson.

It was Anderson's equaliser on Saturday that led to this replay, but his night ended prematurely as he was shown a red card for the challenge — Alex Meechan compounding the pain by smashing in the resulting penalty.

If the home fans thought that would spark the opening of the floodgates they were to be sorely disappointed.

Buxton might even have led by the interval, winning a penalty of their own when Carl Rodgers was harshly judged to have brought down Mark Reed.

The visitors' record goalscorer took the kick himself but his shot hit the underside of the bar before being cleared to safety.

Even that let-off could not shake Telford into top gear, though they did hit the woodwork early in the second half through Shane Killock.

But Buxton made light of their numerical disadvantage to take the game to the verge of extra-time when they suffered a further setback - centre-back Tommy Agus collecting a second yellow card two minutes from time.

Handball

On into the extra half hour and Telford finally seemed to have delivered the killer blow when Adam Proudlock - by some distance their most impressive performer - fired them in front for the first time.

Buxton's battle-weary nine men were now struggling to get out of their own half and should have been finished for good on 112 minutes when Plane pointed to the spot for a third time — penalising Buxton sub James Askey for handball.

But Telford's Andy Brown, who just moments earlier had been clutching his ankle in agony and was criticised by his manager for even taking the penalty, saw his effort saved by keeper Scott Hartley.

Buxton could hardly believe their luck and showed a true gambler's instinct by throwing caution to the wind.

Every set-piece in the last seven minutes saw Hartley dash forward to join the attack.

And their desperation was rewarded with seconds left on the clock as 18-year-old Kamahl Whight netted from a corner to leave Telford on their knees.

Momentum, so often a crucial factor in sport, was now clearly with Buxton and they went on to win the nerve-jangling shoot-out.

Only a fan with the most rose-tinted of specs would say they did not deserve it.

By CHRIS HUDSON