Cup tastes so sour for Bucks

Referee Carl Dunn became a target for the angry fans as the action unfolded - but on the big decisions of the afternoon he made the right calls.

Dean Craven had to go for his handball on the line, and the muted protests were a clear signal that Telford knew he had no alternative.

And Lee Vaughan's rash challenge on Simon Forsdick was only ever going to end in his dismissal.

There were suggestions that he had won the ball and his follow through had merited no more than a yellow card, but with a booking earlier in the game to his name already, the end result would have been just the same.

Those first half incidents left the game at 9 v 11 and it was always an uphill struggle in that situation. Even then the official's red card got another outing as Halesowen defender Nick Amos went midway through the second half for a second booking - again the ref had no alternative.

Nuisance

Where he had been a nuisance was in his fussy handling of what should have been minor incidents - most crucially in making Indy Khela go off to change shirts because of a slight cut.

Khela was ready to come back on within a minute but was made to wait and wait on the sidelines and then told a small drop on his shorts needed cleaning away before he could return.

In that period, Telford's under-manned defence was made to suffer as the over-stretched Jimmy Turner conceded a free-kick and Matt Lewis struck it magnificently to open the scoring.

Telford responded well and looked to be cruising as they swept into a 2-1 lead with goals for Jimmy Turner and Steve Foster from the penalty spot.

But with Craven's handball gifting an equaliser via Lewis' penalty - scored on the rebound from Brock's save - and Vaughan also getting his marching orders, it was always going to be a difficult job for Telford to hold on.

Ironically, they rarely looked too troubled by their numerical disadvantage in the second half and only went behind after an error by Dave Woodvine, making his first start of the season, to gift a hat-trick goal to Lewis.

Having gone behind, the Bucks had to gamble and Dean Perrow was sent on to give Gary Hay support - and it very nearly worked.

The last 10 minutes saw Telford swarming around the penalty area and how they didn't score in the hectic last minute scramble will forever be a mystery.

As it was, Halesowen broke to score into the open goal and seal their progression to the next round.

But Telford can hold their heads high for the way they competed in adverse circumstances.

It is their first competitive defeat under Rob Smith and Larry Chambers and it had to come some time. The challenge now is to start another run all over again.

By Chris Hudson

AFC TELFORD: Brock, Vaughan, Craven, Turner, Woodvine (Perrow 69), Khela, Twigger (Brown 37), Rodgers, Foster (Tolley 44), Hay, Palmer. Subs not used: Stevens, Jones.

HALESOWEN: Woodhall, Warner, Haywood, Preston, Knight, Amos, Cowley, Lewis, Szewczyk (Dowdall 74), Williams, Forsdick (Cooper 69). Subs not used: Pierpoint, Brindley, Gayle.

REFEREE: C Dunn (Stoke-on-Trent) ATTENDANCE: 1,472

CARD CORNER: AFC TELFORD: Craven (9) - adjudged to have pulled down Alex Cowley from behind on the right flank.

Vaughan (18) - Came in late on Nick Amos inside the six-yard box as Telford saw a great chance to level the scores going begging.

Craven (32) - Shown a straight red card after handling Paul Szewczyk's goalbound header on the line.

Vaughan (41) - Also shown a straight red for a late challenge from behind with his studs showing on Simon Forsdick.

Perrow (89) - Perrow appeared to win the ball cleanly off Nick Preston but the Halesowen man went to ground clutching his ankles and the Telford sub got a caution.

Brock (90+2) - Made a clumsy effort to try and check the run of Matt Lewis as he advanced on an open goal after the keeper had gone up the other end to attack a last minute corner.

HALESOWEN: Amos (22) - Held back Indy Khela inside the area to concede a penalty.

Amos (65) - Had to go after receiving his second yellow card of the afternoon for a poorly-timed tackle on Carl Rodgers.