Fleet held on for a creditable victory against AFC Telford United this afternoon despite playing 73 minutes of the game with only 10 men. Paul Lorraine’s dismissal, for what appeared to be an elbow raised if not actually swung against Kyle Perry, failed to trouble the Fleet for 50 minutes of the game and they raced into a 3-0 lead.
Michael West converted a well-placed low free-kick on 27 minutes before Liam Enver-Marum’s excellent solo run saw him tuck away the Fleet’s second on the stroke of half-time. Telford came out stronger in the second-half but Enver-Marum looked to have put the game beyond reach after firing home West’s pass on 62 minutes.
But Adam Proudlock got between Ross Smith and Lance Cronin four minutes later to give Telford a lifeline, one that looked more worrying for the home side on 74 minutes when Ryan Brooke was given space to turn and slot home a second. West had two chances to give the Fleet more breathing space but twice pulled shots wide of the left-hand post and despite plenty of Telford possession and an injured Cronin who struggled to kick the ball, the 10 men held on for victory.
TEAM: Cronin, Stone, Howe, Smith, Lorraine, Barrett (Shakes 77), Phipp (Herd 46), Bellamy, West, Willock (Marwa 57), Enver-Marum. Subs not used: McNeil, Azeez
Att: 875
Craig Stone won man of the match v Braintree. Vote now for Telford match using drop-down menu above.
