A resurgent AFC Telford United provided management duo Rob Smith and Larry Chambers the perfect anniversary present with a comfortable 3-0 win over Redditch United.
Smith and Chambers celebrated four years at the helm of the Bucks on Tuesday, and Saturday’s result keeps alive Telford’s play-off ambitions. Two goals for Damien Reeves and a Dave Bridgwater own goal was enough for Telford to seal the points against a poor Redditch outfit.
And Smith is now hopeful that the recent revival in form - the Bucks are unbeaten in four matches - can end with a play off place and yet another season to remember.
The pair succeeded Bernard McNally with Telford in 21st position in the UniBond League premier division, but have since enjoyed promotion via a play off final victory at Witton Albion.
They have reached the play-offs in both their seasons at Blue Square North level and last season won the Setanta Shield, reached the first round of the FA Cup and the FA Trophy semi-finals.
“We are very proud of being here for four years because the average stay for a manager now is probably about 18 months,” said Smith. “We have had a great time and have loved every minute of it.
“The final at Witton was a real day to remember but I think last season is the one we are most proud of because we achieved so much.
“This season has been tough but hopefully we are turning the corner a bit now because it’s been one long success story since we have been here.”
Smith and Chambers are out of contract at the end of this season, but both are desperate to remain at the helm.
“We would love to stay,” Smith added. “We have still got the hunger and desire we have always had – probably even more so now.
“We will stay as long as the club want and appreciate us and the aim is still to get into the league above (Blue Square Premier).”
Chairman Lee Carter paid tribute to the pair for reaching their latest landmark. “It is a fantastic achievement for Rob and Larry and I am very pleased for them on a personal level,” he said.
“We were facing our first major footballing crisis when they arrived in 2006 and the club has enjoyed some fantastic times with them at the helm.”
Telford weren’t at their best on Saturday but they didn’t really need to be. The Bucks rarely got out of second gear and yet still found themselves three goals up within the first 23 minutes.
Damien Reeves grabbed two of them, profiting from some schoolboy defending, and with a John Bridgwater own goal sandwiched in between, the game was over as contest in the first quarter.
Telford scored with their first foray forward – Phil Trainer chesting a long ball into the path of Andy Brown who played in Reeves.
The former Alfreton Town man looked to have missed his opportunity after a poor second touch, but some hesitant defending allowed him to reclaim possession and he needed no second invitation, slotting the ball past Daniels from 12 yards.
The home side looked like they could score at will during a one-sided first half with Steve Thompson pulling the strings.
The forward, still yet to find the net for Telford, showed neat footwork to trick his way to the byline and stand up a cross to the back post where Andy Brown saw his goalbound header deflected wide for a corner.
Telford’s next chance resulted in the second goal.
After Thompson was fouled on the right hand side, Sean Newton swung in a wicked free kick which glanced off the head of Bridgwater and flew into the top corner of the net.
Just four minutes later it was three. Reeves was allowed to race onto a long Shane Killock clearance, as the visiting defence waited for an offside flag which was never coming, and poke past an exposed Lewis into the far corner.
“It was one of those games where we didn’t really do anything to go 3-0 up,” said Telford manager Rob Smith.
“It was a very difficult game to play in after that. The game was stale and it was poor to watch but it was difficult really once we went 3-0 up to get ourselves motivated.
“People are will say Redditch were poor and on the day they’re probably right, but this is a Redditch team that has been picking up points of everybody.
“The big thing for me was keeping a clean sheet. We changed our formation to try and get goals and that’s worked but we’ve struggled to keep clean sheets.
“Obviously we got the points and a clean sheet and I can’t ask for any more.”
by Alex James
