Nuneaton 2 - AFC Telford 0

Nuneaton 2 - AFC Telford 0 at Liberty Way

Nuneaton: Acton, Travis, Taylor, Curtis, N Moore, Cowan, Collins (Williams 75), Palmer, Brown, Rodman, McIlwain. Subs not used: Noon, Pritchard, Edmond, Armson. Booked: None.

AFC Telford: Young, Vaughan, Charlton, Turner, Roberts, Khela, Adams (L Moore 80), Fitzpatrick (Rodgers 73), Lewis (Reynolds 73), Husbands, Forsdick. Subs not used: Jagielka, Thomas. Booked: Vaughan (29) - trip on Brown, Rodgers (80) - late tackle on Curtis, Turner (90+3) - dissent.

Referee: P Grove (Stourbridge).

Attendance: 1,277.

Goal Log: 1-0 Brown (77) - slid in to convert from close range after Palmer had pulled the ball across from the right side. 2-0 Brown (86) a similar finish off a break started by sub Williams before Travis pulled the ball across for the striker.

Match Report

The less said about this Easter the better - though there was doubtless plenty said during a 20-minute post mortem following this depressing defeat.

The expressions on the faces of the Telford players spoke volumes as they emerged from the dressing room having been forced to face a few home truths from manger Rob Smith and assistant Larry Chambers.

Having put themselves in a position to challenge Kettering for the title, the Bucks now know they have work to do just to make sure of a play-off place.

And - even if they manage that - they know that to be successful then, they must find a way to do something they have not managed yet. They must beat a team in the top six.

They rarely looked like doing it at Liberty Way as, barring a spirited first 15 minutes or so, they offered no attacking threat of any note.

It took two Andy Brown goals in the last quarter of an hour to settle the contest, but Nuneaton had long looked the only winners. Smith and Chambers accused their side of lacking confidence and character, and it was clear to see where they were coming from.

An early 25-yard drive from Asa Charlton and an almighty goalmouth scramble off a Jon Adams corner hinted at a bright afternoon for the Bucks as the home side struggled to get into the game in the early stages.

But Telford did not build on their promising start, and goalkeeper Ryan Young quickly began to emerge as their most important player - making save after save to keep them in the game.

He had to be at his brilliant best on 13 minutes, throwing himself right to beat away a powerful header from ex-Shrewsbury man Gavin Cowan, who was a constant threat off free-kicks whipped in by skipper Tom Curtis.

Young could only turn Cowan’s header into the path of Brown, but his goalbound shot was hooked off the line by Matty Lewis.

The Curtis-Cowan combination came to the fore again on 36 minutes, Young diving and palming the ball straight to Brown once more and then leaping to his feet to complete a remarkable double save.

Ten minutes into the second half and Young was at it again, as Nuneaton broke from a Telford corner. With four on three, they looked well set to open the scoring, but the keeper defied Alex Rodman with another top drawer save.

That sweeping attack only proved to be a forewarning of what was to come though, with Nuneaton scoring not once, but twice from similar breaks.

They broke the deadlock 13 minutes from time, Carl Palmer scampering away down Telford’s left flank and pulling the ball across for Brown to thump it home unmarked inside the six-yard box.

Less than 10 minutes later, he bagged the second off an almost-carbon copy attack. This time it was sub Danny Williams to launch the attack, before passing on to Simon Travis to pull the ball across for the delighted Brown.

Dejected Telford had looked toothless throughout the second half, rarely putting together anything even resembling a serious attack.

Nuneaton, by contrast, look a side on the up, and they are now in the thick of the race for the play-offs.

That race has six participants, with Telford and Nuneaton joined by Harrogate Town, Stalybridge Celtic, Southport and, as an outside bet, Burscough.

Only four of those sides can take their season into overtime.

Telford are still well-positioned to be one of the four but, make no mistake about it, they are not there yet.

And they must prove their Easter wobble - as surprising as the unseasonable snow flurries that were a feature of both games - is left behind them as soon as possible.

PLAYER RATINGS:

RYAN YOUNG: Made three superb saves in the first half to ensure his side kept their clean sheet intact at the break and followed up at the start of the second with another super stop. Eventually beaten late on but could not be faulted for either goal.

LEE VAUGHAN: Rightly booked after a rash first half challenge, and was also quiet for much of the game, making little impression as an attacking threat on the right flank for the Bucks.

ASA CHARLTON: Switched to left wing-back and did his best to offer an outlet on the left, pushing as far up the field as he could. Defensively, found life tough against the pacy and experienced Travis.

JIMMY TURNER: Decent display from the skipper and, like the rest of the central defence, will be a lot happier with their efforts this time despite the result again not being what they wanted.

DAVE ROBERTS: Having dropped to the bench for the debacle against the Sandgrounders, he made his point when restored to the heart of defence. Made some important clearances and was strong throughout.

INDY KHELA: Came back into the side for his first start since playing against Nuneaton back at the New Bucks Head a couple of weeks ago. Brought confidence to the defence.

JON ADAMS: Looked to get forward for the Bucks as often as possible but could not get involved in the game as much as he would have liked. Taken off with 10 minutes to go to make way for Lee Moore.

GARY FITZPATRICK: Brought straight back into the side to play against his former club after being omitted against Southport, and was tidy in midfield without ever making a massive impression. Replaced inside the final 20 minutes.

MATTY LEWIS: Largely anonymous in the first half apart from one important clearance off the line, but made his presence felt more in the second period and had a couple of decent half-chances.

MICHAEL HUSBANDS: Looked Telford’s most creative player at times and was prepared to run at defenders - though he often found himself going down a dead end. Had few actual sights of goal, and that will frustrate him more than anything.

SIMON FORSDICK: Switched to a new role in the centre of midfield and looked really at home there, winning plenty of possession and using the ball wisely most of the time.

SUBS

LUKE REYNOLDS: Apparently dropped to the bench because of a niggling injury and made little impression in his short run-out.

CARL RODGERS: Got stuck in in midfield and definitely gave more of a bite to the Bucks, though he gave the ball away all too often.

LEE MOORE: Had precious little opportunity to make a difference in the last 10 minutes.

FIRST REACTION

Disappointed assistant manager Larry Chambers admitted Nuneaton had been full value for their win.

“They were first to every ball, they were first to every second ball. They chased things down and made it difficult for us,” he said.

“I don’t think they’re a fantastic side but they’re well-organised and the main thing is that they showed desire and passion.

“We started well again and we had set-piece after set-piece but once again we didn’t take the chances that come our way.

“I can’t understand why a side that has been on the great run that we have is suddenly lacking in confidence and devoid of ideas.”

Chambers was particularly angry with the two goals his side conceded in the late stages of the game.

Nuneaton’s top marksman Andy Brown got both to take his tally for the season to 20 and the Bucks No 2 felt both should have been avoided.

“They were two bad goals,” he insisted. “We had a corner and we’re getting caught on the break by a team that doesn’t even leave any strikers up. How does that happen?

“To me that’s just bad play, nobody taking responsibility, and that’s what’s disappointing.

“For both goals the lad has sidefooted it into the net unchallenged from inside the six-yard box and that’s bad defending.”

By Chris Hudson