Rob Smith insists AFC Telford United have got their confidence back for the visit of Barrow tomorrow after a team bonding meal to clear the air.

The Bucks’ Blue Square North promotion hopes have taken a small dent with two defeats over the Easter weekend and boss Smith chose to forego training last night in favour of going to a Chinese restaurant.

And he says that has done the trick with the squad – including new loan striker Ian Holmes – now ready to get themselves back on track.

“We went for a Chinese in Shifnal and had a bit of a get together to talk a few things over,” he revealed. “It’s got the team spirit back and got a few chins up. Heads were down after Monday and it was a case of focusing us again, and reminding us what we have achieved.

“We’re second in the league and we’ve just got to pick up two wins from their last five and we’ll be in the play-offs.

“Confidence is high again. We’ve had two defeats, not a run of 10 games without a win like last year, and our actual form hasn’t been bad.”

Smith expects a tough afternoon tomorrow, with Barrow coming into the match on the back of a 10-game unbeaten run.

They have let in just one goal in their last four, and thrashed Telford 4-0 when the two sides met at Holker Street earlier in the season.

But Smith added: “I thought we were the better team at their place despite the result. We were on top for the first 25 minutes and were punished for two horrendous mistakes.

“They’ve been on an unbeaten run and you can see they’re enjoying it, but if we get the ball down and play there’s no reason why we can’t do it.”

New boy Holmes is likely to go straight into the starting line-up tomorrow, having joined from Mansfield Town for the rest of the season.

He rejected the chance to join Blue Square Premier side Altrincham to come to the Bucks instead, and Smith added: “He just wants to get a couple of games under his belt and it’s worked out quite nicely, because we can’t hit a barn door at the moment.”

By Chris Hudson