AFC Telford 3 Chester 1 - Report and pictures

All of the Bucks played their part in this triumph but Daniel Udoh was the star of the show, grabbing a brace against his former club.

James McQuilkin got the other for Gavin Cowan's charges, who are unbeaten after six National League North games and have won all three at home.

Simon Grand came up with a consolation for Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley's men, who were outclassed for large spells.

Analysis

Steph Morley, having shaken off a calf problem, was back in for Telford, replacing the suspended Ryan Sears. Henry Cowans also returned to the side, with Jon Royle dropping to the bench.

Chester, unsurprisingly, made a few changes from their previous outing - a humiliating 8-1 thrashing at Blyth Spartans, after which joint-manager Johnson told a few players to 'rip up your contracts'. Skipper Scott Burton was among those who came in and they also switched formation, going from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3.

The Blues were desperate to right the wrongs of their horror show in the North East and looking to hurt the Bucks on the counter-attack early on. Anthony Dudley - part of Salford City's title-winning side last season - was leading the line and causing problems. Chester won a free-kick in a dangerous area five minutes in after he was tripped by Theo Streete but, luckily for Telford, John Pritchard's attempt was terrible.

The away side then started to show why they had managed to concede eight in their last match. Centre-halves Danny Livesey and Grand, formerly of the Bucks, were at sixes and sevens and after a quarter of an hour, the hosts capitalised.

It was a comedy of errors that led to the opener. Goalkeeper Grant Shenton's clearance was blocked by Amari Morgan-Smith and a chase for the loose ball ensued; Shenton getting back to make the save. He then did well to deny Udoh but his defence could not clear and McQuilkin was able to steer home on the stretch, clipping the post on the way through.

Telford refused to rest on their laurels and, within four minutes, doubled their advantage. Udoh, who had a brief spell with the Blues last year, carried on his rich vein of form in front of goal with a superb left-footed finish which Shenton had no chance of getting to.

That quick-fire double silenced the travelling supporters and, struggling to cope with the pace and guile of the Bucks attackers, the Chester backline resorted to hacking down Udoh and Morgan-Smith at every opportunity.

Both received treatment and, fortunately, were able to carry on - and continue to pose questions. The Blues were getting more rattled by the minute and, before the break, Matthew Hughes picked up a booking for unnecessarily pushing Morgan-Smith. Chester were booed down the tunnel.

Telford, who had been so cool when on the ball, had to make a substitution for the start of the second period; Dom Smith replacing Morley. Smith partnered captain Shane Sutton at centre-half and Streete was pushed out to right-back. The Blues made one of their own, bringing on Jon Moran for the sloppy Livesey, and looked sharper following what was sure to be a fiery team talk.

The Bucks gave the ball away cheaply on several occasions and Chester had the bulk of possession but, in all honesty, were not doing a great deal with it. In an effort to find a cutting edge, Matt Thomson and Lloyd Marsh-Hughes were introduced. Telford brought on out-and-out winger Adam Dawson for McQuilkin.

The Bucks got a third as the Blues' high line was caught out by the speedy Udoh, who again found the net with aplomb. A clean sheet would have been the icing on the cake for Telford but they did not get one, thanks to Grand's header which the assistant referee felt was narrowly over the line.

While it is too early to pay too much attention to the table, Bucks fans will be delighted with the fact their team are second at the moment.

Key Moments

15 - GOAL! Telford 1-0 Chester. James McQuilkin puts Telford in front. Abysmal defending from the visitors. Chester keeper Grant Shelton gifts the ball to Amari Morgan-Smith. He denies him and then Daniel Udoh but the ball falls to McQuilkin, who stabs it home on the stretch.

19 - GOAL! Telford 2-0 Chester. Udoh makes it two with a lovely finish. The former Blues man bursts into the box and, with his left foot, smacks the ball past Shenton. No stopping that.

76 - GOAL! Telford 3-0 Chester. Game over. Darryl Knights plays a through-ball to Udoh and, with all the time in the world, he keeps his head and slots past Shenton.

80 - Goal! Telford 3-1 Chester. The Blues pull one back through Simon Grand. His header just crossed the line.

Teams

Telford (4-4-2): Bramley; White, Streete, Sutton (c), Morley (Smith, 46); Cowans, Deeney, McQuilkin (Dawson, 72), Knights; Morgan-Smith (Brown, 78), Udoh

Subs not used: Royle, Wycherley (gk)

Chester (4-3-3): Shenton; Smalley, Livesey (Moran, 46), Grand, Waters; Burton (c), Stopforth, Mahon (Thomson,65); Hughes (Marsh-Hughes, 65), Dudley, Pritchard

Subs not used: Howson, Mooney

Attendance: 1,876 (535 Chester)

Referee: Benjamin Speedie (Liverpool)