A solid defensive performance and two goals were enough to seal victory at the New Bucks Head last night as the Bucks put one foot in the final of the play-offs.
The game started slowly, with neither side creating much in the way of chances in the opening 20 minutes. The only effort was an off-target free kick from Alfreton.
The Bucks then started to turn the screw and turn possession into shots at goal. Liam Blakeman and Phil Trainer had efforts that went close, although Emike Nwadike had a good chance but sliced his effort wide.
Nwadike atoned by opening the scoring three minutes into the second half. Alfreton should have equalised though after some terrible defending let in their centre forward. We were extremely lucky to escape thanks to a shocking finish.
From that moment on though there was only going to be one winner – us. Vaughan and Brown combined well down the right hand side to set up Carey Bertram for the second, although his finish was slightly lucky in the fact his initial shot was blocked but rebounded off him and into the net, although that’s the kind of luck we needed.
With only five minutes left and with the game safely in our favour, a moment of madness cost the team and Phil Trainer as he was sent off for an off the ball incident.
From what I saw, their was a bit of pushing and shoving on the goal line when a ball was put across the box. Trainer took offence, chased the defender and barged him, although Trainer himself was the one who fell to the floor.
Trainer looked bemused at the red card that was brandished by the referee but I’m not quite sure why. Why he needed to get involved in something so stupid, so close to the end of a game we were comfortable in, is beyond me.
He looked sharp all game and now he is likely to miss both the semi-final second leg and the final if we make it.
Overall though, it was a good game and an excellent result for the Bucks. Now need to go to Alfreton and make sure of the win.
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I attended the game last night and thought 2-0 flattered Telford, the second goal especially was very lucky.
Alfreton spawned the best chance of the game, had they scored it would have been a very different story.
I was also very impressed with the 180 or so Alfreton fans who were noisy and supportive throughout.
Amusing end to the game as well, a steward remarked that they had prepared for problems from the fans, not the players who engaged in a brawl on the pitch that continued in the tunnel.
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Block 16, I’m afraid a Google search reveals previous postings that give away your allegiance to Shrewsbury Town, hence I think most of your comments should be considered in the light of that fact.
As a self-confessed AFC Telford supporter I thought 2-0 was about right, you failed to mention that the chance Alfreton spurned (surely not spawned as you stated!) fell to a player who was clearly offside by about 5 yards and was the only one they ‘created’ all night.
That you believe it ‘would’ have been a different story had that chance been taken, rather than ‘could’, just about sums up your blinkered view.
As for Danny Carey-Bertram’s ‘lucky’ goal, well sometimes working hard and not giving up on a chance can bring you a slice of luck.
I’d share your view on the Alfreton fans, who gave their team good support, as did the many Telford fans, but of course no mention of them, eh?
Still, I’m glad you got a chance to see what play-off football is like. As this is something your own team have struggled and may yet fail to deliver it’s nice to be able to help out our neighbours!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCxvajihDf0 try this link to you tube for the telford song come on you bucks
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