Gloucester City 1 AFC Telford 0 - Report and pictures

A goal from Obi Anoruo on the stroke of half-time did the damage for the hosts, who had keeper Jas Singh to thank for a magnificent performance in goal as he denied the impressive Bucks again and again.

In a first-half that Telford struggled to get going in, the well-supported hosts took the initiative and threatened James Montgomery in the Bucks goal.

Hanks' set-pieces were a factor all afternoon and an early effort whistled past Montgomery's left-hand post before a fine run by the lively James Bowen saw a stinging drive fly straight at the 'keeper.

Rob Smith's men were looking to rally through David Hibbert, who almost spectacularly connected with an Izak Reid cross but could not execute the bicycle kick.

Hibbert was a target over the top and long balls from debutant Lucas Dawson twice saw him bear down on Singh's goal but after waiting for the ball to drop the opportunities had gone.

Midway through the half and Singh's questionable clearance fell to Danny Glover 20-yards from the home goal and the former Hednesford Town forward attempted a delicate chip that was unfortunate not to lob the backpedaling number one.

The visitors, buoyed on under new-found optimism with the managerial changes midweek, grew into the encounter and could have taken the lead on a couple of occasions on the half hour.

Bucks: Montgomery, Dawson, Campion, Lees, Deaman, Rea, Reid, Goddard (Gorman, 66), Hibbert, Glover (Bakayoko, 59), Clancy (c)

Unused: Harrison, Fletcher, Anderson.

Gloucester: Singh, Hamilton, Jones, Williams (c), Avery, Hanks, Liddiard, Thompson (Connolly, 83), Anoruo (White, 65), Symons, Bowen (Hall,21).

Unused: Hicks, Parker.

Attendance: 425

First, Reid's industry was again rewarded as fine interplay between the winger, Jack Rea and Dawson led to Reid's cross being met by Glover - whose header flicked the post on its way wide.

The clearer opening came moments later, as Glover slipped in Jordan Goddard who broke the Gloucester offside trap but was superbly denied by Singh.

Five minutes before the break and Glover's eyes lit up again, this time played in from the excellent Dawson, he skewed hopelessly wide with his left-foot.

And the Bucks were made to pay on the stroke of half-time. From a nothing free-kick, Hanks' delivery from near-on half-way looked initially to have beaten Montgomery but a flick from forward Anoruo seemed to prove telling.

A Darren Campion half-volley flew upwards of the Gloucester angle after the break, before Glover should have drawn his side level.

Sean Clancy's checked back onto his right side before delivering an inch-perfect cross to the unmarked Glover, who thumped a header over the top from 6-yards.

Glover could not keep himself out of the action and moments later latched onto a nice Hibbert turn before a drive from 20-yards was beaten away.

Hibbert's prowess in the air looked to then play in Reid, but his lobbed volley landed just inches wide of Singh's post.

Into the final 15 minutes and it was Reid's chance to earn Smith's return what it deserved, after a nice Bakayoko set, the wideman could only lash a volley well over but it was his second opening the boss will be rueing.

Hibbert's flick saw Reid race clean through with Singh, only to see his finish blocked by the keeper's legs.

Sub Johnny Gorman jinked inside onto his favoured left foot but saw a presentable opening blocked before his perfect right-footed cross evaded everyone in the Gloucester box as Telford came within inches of banging the door down.

Singh was in imperious form and refused to be beaten as he first kept out a sweeping first-time Gorman strike before somehow sprawling to deny Jack Deaman's resulting header.

It seemed very much a case of Telford not getting past the number one if they played for the next week. But plenty for Smith and Chambers to admire, if not the finishing.