Click here to listen to Glenn's full post-match interview.

City advanced to the FA Cup Second Round for the second season in a row as two goals from skipper David Rainford, an Aiden Palmer “Goal of the Round” contender and another from young midfielder Craig Parker sent Blue Square Bet Premier side AFC Telford back to Shropshire humbled.

 

Glenn Pennyfather’s men were on-song from the start against opposition from one division higher in the pyramid but they made up for that gap with effort, desire and craft which could make them a tricky prospect to avoid for some of the professional clubs in Sunday’s draw [2:30pm on ITV1 and FATV]. City’s boss was delighted that he could relax this time, with no replay, and see who his side will be paired with.

 

“I thought we were fantastic today,” he claimed after the game. “W knew we had to start at a high tempo, like we have in most of our games this season. Aiden Palmer got us off to a great start, with what will be Goal of the Round I’m sure, and we just went from strength to strength. It was a pretty complete team performance. It certainly was emphatic at the end and I thought we deserved that.”

 

He made four changes to his eleven for the big game. Right-back Ben Nunn and winger Ricky Modeste both suffered knocks in midweek so they were replaced by Justin Miller and Greg Morgan respectively. Captain David Rainford was fit again and ready for selection so he came in for cup-tied striker Michael Bakare in a change of system, while Kezie Ibe was picked up-front with Cliff Akurang suspended.

 

The hosts started brightly, Sam Corcoran receiving the ball back from his own 6th-minute corner and drilling just wide of the near post from ten yards while Ibe flicked over his shoulder and goalwards several minutes later, forcing goalkeeper Ryan Young to push it wide. That started a spell of pressure which led to the opener, but not before Max Cornhill thumped the post with a deflected header.

 

On 11 minutes a piece of individual genius sent the Clarets on their way. Palmer received the ball in an ideal position to put a cross in from the right, though he saw a different path and turned one defender, outfoxed another with a change of direction then guided the ball beautifully into the far top corner - a stunning strike.

 

Cornhill and Rainford went close for Chelmsford towards the middle of the half and play at the other end was spread to Andy Brown on 20 minutes though he side-footed at ‘keeper Stuart Searle from 20 yards. There was a setback when Morgan came out of a ground challenge with an injury which forced him from the field, but his replacement Parker would go on to make a huge impact on the game later on.

 

In the meantime, a free kick from mid-way into the City half flew towards goal through a crowd of bodies and Searle had to make a brilliant diving save to turn it wide in the 32nd minute. Five minutes later, Telford right-back Will Salmon advanced to the edge of the box where he whistled an effort inches over the crossbar.

 

However, just as the visitors were starting to build some momentum that was extinguished in first-half stoppage time. Chelmsford launched one of their characteristic counter-attacks led by Corcoran, who managed to work the ball to Parker via Cornhill and the young midfielder swept home from close range. Brown then headed wide from a few yards for Telford, who had it all to do after the break.

 

For Parker, it marked a return to action after a lengthy injury lay-off, Glenn adding: “I was so pleased for him and it’s testament to how hard he’s worked because he’s been out since pre-season and I felt so bad for him. I think he’s going to be a brilliant asset for us as he’s a clever footballer who understands the game. Once he’s fully fit and flying he’s going to prove why a lot of people wanted him in the summer.”

 

Chris Sharp struck across the face of goal early in the second half for Andy Sinton’s side as they again applied pressure to Chelmsford’s back line. Though they lacked a cutting edge and, just as they had done before the interval, the Clarets pacified them with a goal. Ibe had a penalty appeal waved away just beforehand but, when Parker was felled on 63 minutes, Rainford slammed the spot kick into the top corner.

 

The Telford fans’ frustration manifested itself in the lighting of a flare behind the goal, which was quickly dealt with by stadium staff, but they could do nothing about what was happening on the pitch as Phil Trainer attacked a corner kick with his head at the far post without success. Even when they were gifted a tap-in following a defensive mistake Spencer Weir-Daley was unable to keep his footing at the vital time.

 

That left Chelmsford free to add gloss to the scoreline with a sublime fourth. Corcoran’s free kick was floated to the edge of the box where Rainford showed excellent technique to jump unmarked and send a powerful header high beyond Young and into the net. It was the ideal way to complete a fantastic afternoon for his side.

 

“It’ll be nice to have the opportunity to sit in front of the telly and know we’ve got that game coming up,” Pennyfather summarised. “Last year we went to Wycombe and had a fantastic day out there - this time I think we’d like to take a game where we’ve got a realistic chance of reaching the Third Round. What a day that would be.”

 

City:

 

1 Stuart Searle

2 Justin Miller

3 Aiden Palmer

4 Adam Tann

5 Kenny Clark

6 David Rainford (C)

7 Warren Whitely

8 Sam Corcoran

9 Kezie Ibe

10 Max Cornhill

11 Greg Morgan

 

12 Joe Benjamin (On for Whitely, 90+2)

14 Mark Haines

15 Ross Lamb

16 Ben Nunn

17 Craig Parker (On for Morgan, 28)

18 Tyrone Scarlett

19 Ashley Harrison (GK)

 

AFC Telford United: Ryan Young, Will Salmon, Sean Newton, Dan Preston (Nathan Rooney, 67), Chris Sharp, Shane Killock, Richard Davies (Craig Farrell, 55), Phil Trainer, Greg Mills, Andy Brown (Spencer Weir-Daley, 69), Jon Adams. Unused Substitutes: Stuart Whitehead, Courtney Pitt, Ryan Valentine, Ryan Robinson (GK).

 

Bookings: Clark (51, foul). Preston (61, foul).

 

Referee: Declan Ford (Lincoln).

 

Assistant Referees: Matthew Hopton (Bury St Edmunds) and David Avent (Northampton).

Fourth Official: Anthony Serrano (Hemel Hempstead).

 

Attendance: 1,430.

 

City Man of the Match: Kezie Ibe.