Team selection wrong - boss

Self-critical boss Rob Smith saw AFC Telford United labour to a 3-1 win over Blyth Spartans and declared: "I got the team selection wrong."The victory ended the Bucks' run of two consecutive defeats in the Blue Square North - but Smith admitted his tactical tinkering had very nearly back-fired.

The Telford chief opted to go with a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Lee Moore recalled to the starting line-up to play in the 'hole' behind Matty Lewis and loan man Michael Husbands.

But Smith said: "I think I got it wrong on Saturday. We played three strikers with Mooro just in the hole and it doesn't suit us, it doesn't work.

"You can't get away with it in this league unless you're really on the front foot.

"We got out-numbered in the middle of the park and we got it wrong. Jon Adams came on and that's what we should have started with.

"We watched them in midweek and thought we'd ask questions of their defence by playing three on their back three, but it never worked like that.

"When we went back to just two strikers and three in the middle of the park, Jon Adams was running the show."

Smith was delighted to see his side pick up all three points, a result that keeps them in fifth place in the table.

But he was quick to point out to his players that a repeat performance could see a very different outcome when the two sides meet again in the FA Trophy in two weeks.

"I just said in the dressing room after, that we can't afford to dip below our standards because we're not good enough to do that," he added.

"Our work-rate wasn't there. We were second best in the first half and we were lucky to go in at 1-1."

Blyth were left to rue a couple of key decisions that went against them, notably when Telford skipper Jimmy Turner escaped with a yellow card after bringing Alex Gildea down on the edge of the box with the score at 2-1.