Below-par Boro sunk at home by strugglers AFC Telford United

After the champagne football (scoring 8 goals in the process) in the previous two home games, this was a hugely disappointing performance from Boro, as lowly visitors Telford battled for a 1-0 win on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Scarborough Sports Village.

A solid defensive trio of Oli Cawthorne, Zak Lilly and the outstanding Orrin Pendley snuffed out any attacking threat Boro could muster, with wing-backs Matt Curley and new signing Mal Benning, on his debut, also impressing, as keeper Lewys Benjamin was never really tested.

Luke Hall gets stuck in for Boro during their 1-0 home loss to strugglers Telford. Photo by Richard Ponter

placeholder image — Luke Hall gets stuck in for Boro during their 1-0 home loss to strugglers Telford. Photo by Richard Ponter

Telford began brightly, Will Thornton cleared a Sam McLintock pull-back from the byeline, and Ryan Whitley did well to grab a low cross from Remi Walker.

For Boro, Jack Waldron fed Luke Hall, whose shot was blocked by Cawthorne, a superb sliding tackle from Pendley halted a run from Mo Fadera, another Fadera run into the box was stopped by a Cawthorne tackle, then a Fadera snap-shot was blocked by Pendley.

Telford's defence block an effort by Mo Fadera. Photo by Wandering Photography

Boro did have plenty of possession, without creating too many chances.

A Luca Colville free-kick to the back post was headed across the goalmouth by Thornton to Rio Allan, whose volley looped up into the keeper’s arms, then Hall teed up Fadera, whose shot was blocked by Telford skipper Alex Fletcher.

Allan, Waldron and Fadera all fired into the arms of Benjamin.

On 31 minutes Boro keeper Whitley made a terrific save, diving to his left to tip away a close-range Matt Stenson shot, then Jake Hull blocked a strike from Lilly. Just before the break, a nasty clash of heads left both Benning and Alex Wiles needed medical assistance, and Wiles was replaced by Kieran Weledji in the interval.

Boro on the attack against Telford. Photo by Richard Ponter

Early in the second half, a clever turn from Fadera was followed by a crunching tackle from Cawthorne, then Telford centre-back Pendley drilled a 35-yard shot into the chest of Whitley, a Louis Moult shot was blocked by Thornton, and a lofted cross into the Boro area by Cawthorne bounced off the top of the bar. Pendley then headed into the goalmouth, but Weledji hacked clear.

At the other end, Alex Brown set up a Boro attack, which culminated in Allan‘s shot on the turn being charged down by Fletcher, and Colville raced onto a Weledji pass and jinked into the box, but Lilly’s tackle averted the danger.

A 0-0 draw was looking the likely outcome, as Lilly headed over from a McLintock corner, Stenson raced into the area, but Whitley saved with his legs, and a fierce McLintock shot struck Hull in the face, before the visitors went ahead on 78 minutes, when Dylan Mitchell’s pass found Stenson, who drilled a low shot under Whitley from the right of the area.

Boro pushed men forward, even keeper Whitley, looking for a late equaliser, but the visitors defended superbly.

Boro's top scorer Rio Allan is outmuscled by a Telford defender. Photo by Wandering Photography

A Thornton shot was blocked by Cawthorne, Dom Tear was tackled by Pendley when he raced forward, and Hall sent a 30-yarder inches over, as Telford held on for their first win of the season.

BORO - Whitley, Waldron, Brown, Hull, Thornton(c), Purver Hannan, Hall, Wiles (Weledji 46), Allan, Fadera (Tear 78), Colville. Unused subs - Maloney, Stuttard, Pllu, Colley.

TELFORD - Benjamin, Curley, Lilly, Cawthorne, Pendley, Benning, Fletcher(c), McLintock, Stenson (Williams 86), Walker (Mitchell 32), Moult (Owen 66). Unused subs - Hall (GK), Lambert.

REFEREE - Luke Hood.