Larry Chambers blasted an AFC Telford United no-show as they capitulated to a damaging 2-0 defeat at Vauxhall Motors.

The result leaves them 11 points adrift of leaders Gateshead and with a mountain to climb in the Blue Square North promotion race.

But it was the manner of the defeat that really hurt assistant manager Chambers, who felt his side showed no fight or desire.

“I don’t want to stand here and slag the players off because that’s not my style really – it’s been a decent season,” he said.

“But in football you look for passion, you look for desire, you look for commitment, you look for people applying themselves properly. There was none of that at all.

“And all of those things, you’ve got a Vauxhall side who have got nothing to play for and they have shown those qualities in abundance.

“I’m not passing the buck but generally wherever myself and Rob (Smith, the manager) have been we’ve had sides that have shown passion and desire.

“That team last night is not a reflection of what we are about. The only reason we got the Telford job in the first place was that we had to work for it.

“We had to play at some right dumps and now we’ve got to this place we want to stay there – and I don’t think the players realise how lucky they are.”

Chambers is refusing to accept the Bucks are out of title contention just yet, but admits they have left themselves with a lot to do.

“We’ve gone for a situation four weeks ago when we were firing on all fronts and had a realistic chance of winning all competitions,” he added.

“I’m not throwing the towel in, but if you look at the table, Gateshead, Southport and Tamworth are too far in front.

“We’re looking at play-offs before we’ve got to the end of March and this club isn’t about that. It’s a big club, we’ve got some big players.”

By Chris Hudson