Three consecutive 2-0 defeats. That is the March misery that has threatened to obliterate AFC Telford’s treble ambitions.

Just eight days ago, the Bucks had the Blue Square North title in their sights and were also eyeing up Wembley in the FA Trophy as well as their on-going Setanta Shield campaign.

Today, the first two of those aims are both looking decidedly dodgy thanks to an uncharacteristic run of poor defensive errors coupled with cripplingly unfortunate injuries.

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Saturday’ semi-final first leg defeat at home to York has left them needing to produce the comeback of the season if they are to be heading for a glamour tie at Wembley.

And last night’s reverse at Blyth Spartans – the two first half goals mirroring what happened at Vauxhall Motors last week – means they can realistically focus only on the play-offs in the league.

The Blyth loss was only compounded by a late red card for substitute Martyn Naylor that will give them further suspension concerns for the run-in.

And their toothless display only further emphasised the need for attacking reinforcements while Andy Brown and Danny Carey-Bertram continue to struggle with injury.

Telford had actually started the brighter of the two sides at Croft Park last night, without managing to test rookie keeper Paul Farman in the Blyth goal.

And they were made to pay for that when Marc Walton found space inside the box and gave a masterclass in finishing, flashing a drive past Ryan Young into the far corner.

That goal clearly rocked the Bucks, who now resorted to a plethora of hit-and-hope balls forward that never looked like doing the job – particularly with giant defender Richard Pell dominating against the diminutive Mark Danks.

Phil Trainer did flash a half-volley straight at Farman with Telford’s first serious effort but they soon found themselves two down.

Simon Todd launched the ball forward and Robert Dale fell under a challenge from Jimmy Turner – referee Neil Sharp pointing to the spot straight away but letting the Telford defender off with a yellow card.

Dale buried the spot-kick in convincing fashion to leave the visitors looking to turn around what has become a depressingly familiar scoreline.

The Shropshire side did dig deep to turn in a strong final 15 minutes of the first half and a goal then, when they were well on top, might have transformed the outcome of the game.

Defender Gavin Cowan saw a header saved off a corner during that spell, while Lee Moore drove a shot into the side-netting off a great ball across the six-yard box by James Meredith.

Telford also created two good openings early in the second half – the much-improved Phil Trainer involved in both.

The Oxford loan man first drilled in a cross-cum-shot that Emeka Nwadike just failed to turn in at the far post.

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And he then got on the end of a ball whipped in from the left, only to be denied by a decent reaction save by Farman.

Yet that was about as good as it got for Telford as an attacking force, and manager Rob Smith was honest enough to admit they might even have conceded a third on the break.

Marc Walton went closest to scoring for the Northumbrians , collecting a Dale cross with his back to goal before spinning on the spot and curling a shot which clipped the post.

And Telford’s misery was compounded right at the death when Naylor was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Blyth substitute Stuart Banks.

It was a decision that looked harsh – Naylor caught his man but was outdone by the youngster’s pace and the tackle was certainly not malicious.

On another day, with another referee, the Bucks man might have got away with a yellow card instead.

Naylor is only the second Telford player to see red this season.

The first, Lee Vaughan, has served a three-game ban that has coincided exactly with this losing run.

The Bucks can but hope his immediate return signals a swift change in fortunes.

By Chris Hudson