Vanarama National League North
New Bucks Head
Thursday 12th April 2018

It is becoming increasingly clear that Leamington are not going to cement their National League North status the easy way as they came out on the wrong end of a five goal scoreline at the New Bucks Head.

AFC Telford United must wish they could play at home every Thursday as they battled back from behind after taking an early lead for the second week running, lifting themselves out of the bottom three in the process and giving their own survival hopes a massive shot in the arm.

Once again Brakes found themselves chasing the game early on, this time with six minutes on the clock as Kane Richards pounced on a weak defensive header to nudge the ball into space for Bucks top scorer Marcus Dinanga to crash an unstoppable shot across Tony Breeden into the net.

The difference this time was how Paul Holleran’s men responded and they were level inside three minutes as Kieran Dunbar’s right wing corner was cleared only as far as Junior English, who controlled and thumped a close range shot into the net.

The playing surface still bore heavy scars from the recent wet weather despite the best efforts of the ground staff, and the pitch was very heavy in certain areas, hindering and helping both sides at times.

Leamington benefited greatly from dragging themselves level so quickly, and things improved further with 23 minutes played when they added a second goal, the first time in 10 matches they had scored more than once in a game. Daniel Udoh chased a ball down the left channel into the penalty area, beating Connor Johnson to the ball before advancing and firing through the legs of keeper Ben Wilson into the net.

It probably should have been three soon afterwards. A free kick into the Telford penalty area was picked up by Udoh, whose shot was blocked behind for another corner from which Jack Edwards placed a close range header over the bar when he should at least have hit the target.

This gave Telford fresh hope, and after Richards had blazed a shot over the bar the hosts levelled things up once more on 34 minutes, skipper Shane Sutton looping what looked a hopeful looking header towards goal as the ball was played back in following a corner, but the Bucks skipper had judged it just right, the ball dropping down into the net out of reach of Breeden.

Former Telford man Dunbar chested down and threaded a good pass forward for Udoh to chase, Wilson haring off his line to get to the ball inches ahead of the striker. Sutton then saw two efforts blocked on the edge of the box before the ball was cleared by Joe Clarke, a volley coming back in from way out that Breeden had to watch all the way before it landed in his arms.

Richards felt he had a claim for a penalty as he went to ground just inside the box with English challenging, however Referee Sam Mulhall was unmoved.

The sticky pitch almost aided Brakes in their search for a third goal early in the second half as Udoh darted on to a back pass that held up in the mud, beating the chasing defenders for pace only to be denied by a good block from Wilson as he attempted to steer the ball past the goalkeeper. It would turn out to be Leamington’s only real chance of the half as they found themselves behind for the second time in the game six minutes in, Breeden appearing to punch the ball straight to Dominic Smith as he attempted to punch clear from a corner kick, the Telford defender bundling the ball home to put his side back in front.

Sutton almost added a fourth, left inexplicably unmarked at the far post to power a header back across goal from a right wing corner, the ball dropping just wide.

The giant bearded centre back threatened once more following two blocked shots as he was left unmarked once more, this time heading against the bar. Johnson followed up and saw his shot cleared away from the goal line.

A superb sliding challenge from Jamie Hood denied the lively Wolves loanee Ryan Giles as he looked to skip towards goal in the penalty area on the left with Telford looking to make the game safe, and in all honesty the home side looked the more likely to add to their tally in the closing stages with Brakes defending resolutely whilst pushing plenty of men forward when attacking, but their efforts counted for nothing, and they will now go into Saturday’s home game with a Curzon Ashton side level on points with them in the table, knowing that a win could almost see them safe. Telford meanwhile, have leapfrogged both Tamworth and Alfreton and now sit level on points with Leamington with a game in hand.

Attendance: 977

AFC Telford United: Ben Wilson, Ross White, Connor Johnson, Dominic Smith, Shane Sutton ©, Ellis Deeney, Jordan Lussey, Henry Cowans, Kane Richards (14 Amari Morgan-Smith, 57), Marcus Dinanga (15 John Marsden, 67), Ryan Giles (12 Paul Bignot, 90).

Subs not used: 13 Jasbir Singh, Elliot Newby.

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Junior English, Connor Gudger, Joe Clarke, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Matt Dodd (15 Ahmed Obeng, 65), Callum Gittings (12 Liam Canavan, 87), Daniel Udoh, Jack Edwards, Kieran Dunbar (17 Kurtis Revan, 78).

Subs not used: 14 Joe Magunda, 16 Richard Taundry.

Referee: Mr Sam Mulhall

Assistant Referees: Mr Richard Cattell & Mr James King

Brakes Man of the Match: James Mace.