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Solihull Moors 1-3 AFC Telford United

AFC Telford United made a positive end to a disappointing month in Blue Square North by notching a first league victory of 2009 at Damson Parkway on Tuesday evening, writes Steve Humbles.

Telford missed two excellent chances early on to take the lead amidst the Birmingham drizzle, Danny Carey-Bertram blasting over at the back-post on 16 minutes after Edwards' corner before Gavin Cowan headed wide following an excellent cross from Phil Trainer two minutes later. Moors' task was made harder however on 27 minutes when Liam Daily was sent off for a wild lunge on Lee Vaughan and the home side were dealt a second blow when Telford took the lead from the resulting free-kick; Cowan firing home after Edwards' free-kick broke to him in the box on 29. Just four minutes later, the Bucks were two up. Jon Adams' fierce volley was parried by Moors' goalkeeper Daniel Crane after Edwards' corner had only been half-cleared and Carey-Bertram was first to the loose ball to score from close-range on 33 minutes. With Telford dominant there were loud appeals for a penalty when Carey-Bertram went down in the area after latching onto Terry Fearns' pass, but Moors were given a lifeline when Theo Street reduced their arrears against the run of play just four minutes before the interval. Telford couldn't clear a right-wing corner and Street was on hand to convert following a goalmouth scramble.

Telford continued to boss the game in the second-half and there were further fruitless penalty appeals on 54 minutes when Fearns went down under a challenge. The Bucks had the breathing space they needed though on 59 minutes thanks to Liam Blakeman's first goal for the club. James Meredith crossed from the left, Carey-Bertram did well to lay the ball off to Blakeman and the midfielder drilled a left-footer hard and low past Crane into the goalkeeper's bottom left corner to make it 3-1. Despite Telford's dominance Peter Faulds missed a great chance to give his side a glimmer of hope, firing wide after Ryan Young parried his initial drive, yet it was Telford who looked most likely to add to the scoring. Substitute Martyn Naylor was unlucky to see his long-range thunderbolt strike the post on 78 minutes but the Bucks suffered no further alarms to secure a valuable three points.

AFC Telford United: 1. Ryan Young, 2. Lee Vaughan, 3. James Meredith, 4. Gavin Cowan, 5. Stuart Whitehead (c), 6. Liam Blakeman, 7. Jon Adams, 8. Phil Trainer, 9. Terry Fearns, 10. Danny Carey-Bertram, 11. Danny Edwards. SUBS: 12. Lee Moore (for Adams 67), 14. Martyn Naylor (for Edwards 74), 15. Jimmy Turner, 16. Matty Lewis (for Carey-Bertram 81), 17. Indy Khela

Referee: Mr S. Bennett (Kidsgrove)

Attendance: 343

Pictured: Above - Gavin Cowan celebrates his goal with Danny Edwards and below Telford scorer Danny Carey-Bertram challenges Solihull Moors' Peter Faulds