Bucks in Hinckley warning

AFC Telford United are tomorrow aiming to boost their promotion challenge against a Hinckley side who have been one of the season’s surprise packages - but for all the wrong reasons.The Leicestershire outfit are languishing in the Blue Square North relegation zone, and that is a far cry from last season, when they got all the way to the play-off final before losing to Farsley Celtic.

But Bucks assistant manager Larry Chambers is warning against complacency as his side look to close the gap on leaders Kettering.

“Everybody in the league is surprised with how things have gone for Hinckley this season,” said Chambers, who will be on his own in the dugout tomorrow as boss Rob Smith is away on business.

“Myself and Rob were at the play-off final last season and they were four minutes away from promotion because they were 3-2 up and Farsley came back to win 4-3.

“We watched them play at Stalybridge on Monday (a 3-0 defeat) and for the first 30 minutes they held their own before they conceded an unfortunate goal, and it was an uphill task then.

“We need to match them early doors and make sure we don’t give them anything that offers them encouragement.”

Hinckley boss Dean Thomas insists his side will revel in the opportunity to play in front of a large crowd at the New Bucks Head.

“We played well at home to Telford, and if luck had been on our side that day we might have won,” he added.

“Our midfielder Neil Cartwright broke his leg in that one and he still hasn’t come back, and that took the shine off a good performance.”

Meanwhile, Telford defender Richard Teesdale has rejected the chance of a loan move to one of two UniBond League clubs who had made enquiries to sign him.

“He doesn’t feel he’s quite ready to go out on loan yet,” said Chambers.

“He had 45 minutes for the reserves on Tuesday and feels he needs another week before he goes anywhere.”