Burton’s early strike fires Boro to victory
Boro climbed to third in National League North with a hard-fought win against a battling Telford side that pushed them all the way, in their first match under their newly-appointed former Brackley Town boss Kevin Wilkin.
The lowly visitors made a bright start, as a Rob Evans overhead kick was blocked by the excellent Bailey Gooda, and a Byron Moore shot was easily saved by Joe Cracknell, but it was Boro who opened the scoring in the ninth minute, when Lewis Maloney floated a free-kick forward into the penalty area, Will Thornton headed-on and Kieran Burton lashed his shot past keeper Luke Pilling.
Gooda sent a through-ball to Ciaran McGuckin, who turned and fired narrowly wide, then Jackson fed Luca Colville, whose snap-shot wassavedbyPilling,andashot from Kieran Glynn flew wide of the right hand post.
Telford's giant 6ft 5ins striker Nathan Blissett (nephew of former England striker Luther)racedclear,butGooda made a terrific tackle to halt hisrun,thenMichaelCoulson shot just over for Boro shortly before the interval.
Early in the second half, Boro's impressive 18-year old RotherhamUnitedloaneeMcGuckin tried a 25-yard shot thatdeflectedoffTelfordskipperMattyBrown,withtheball
squirming inches wide of the left-hand post.
Maloney took the corner and the ball dropped to Colville on the edge of the area, but his fierce shot was tipped over the bar by flying keeper Pilling. Telford then went close when a free-kick from Brendan Daniels was heading for the bottom right corner, but Cracknell dived to push
the ball away.
Fromalong-throwintothe box by Brad Bood, a scramble developed, with Cracknell diving to smother a shot from Blissett. Devon Green then flashedashotincheswide,and had another strike blocked by Maloney. Glynn was involved at both ends, shooting wide from 25-yards, then getting back to block a shot from Telford danger man Bood.
The visitors applied late pressure as they tried to salvage a point, but Burton, Gooda and Thornton were outstandingindefence,Gooda blockingastrikefromBlissett, and Thornton charging down a Jason Oswell shot, while Cracknell, who handled confidentlythroughout,heldlong range shots, from both Brown and then Green, as Boro held out to secure three points.