Boss Rob Smith said he’d be happy with a point and he got exactly that – thanks to a determined display from an under strength side.

The Bucks were missing key first team regulars like Lee Vaughan, Stuart Whitehead, Jon Adams and Andy Brown, yet always looked a match for title-chasing Southport.

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Four times they have faced the Sandgrounders this season, and still they are taste defeat. It is certainly a record that augers well should the two meet again in the play-offs.

And Telford now look all-but certain to extend their campaign into that period of over-time after a weekend of favourable results.

Their win, coupled with a draw for nearest challengers Droylsden, means one more point should be enough.

Southport, too, look destined for the play-offs. Their failure to take three points off the Bucks means it is now very hard for them to catch current leaders Tamworth, who ended a two-game losing streak.

They could have no complaints about the result, either, with Telford full value for their point.

It was a bright start by the visitors, with Phil Trainer looking effective in a second striker role behind Mark Danks.

The Bucks might even have been ahead inside the first 60 seconds when Liam Blakeman got a good cross in from the right and keeper Tony McMillan had to be fast to clear ahead of Danny Edwards.

Telford struggled to defend set-pieces however, with Southport creating most of their opportunities from dead ball situations.

Matty McGinn flashed one shot inches wide from a 20 yards while another effort went off-target after Ryan Young dropped a long ball into the box.

An uncharacteristic slip by Indy Khela gave Alan Moogan the chance to break for the hosts and his powerful shot was parried before Steve Daly fired over.

Southport finally got the lead their possession probably merited when Robbie Booth produced a bit of magic with yet another free-kick.

His 35-yard strike whizzed into the net, with defenders and keeper all powerless to react – whether he meant it or it was a cross gone ‘wrong’ is a mute point.

Blakeman might have levelled before the break when he weaved his way into the box but, having done all the hard work, his shot was weak and straight at McMillan.

McGinn should have netted a second for his side just before the break, while Robbie Booth had two chances soon after the re-start following a couple of defensive errors.

Yet the failure to convert any of the openings seemed to take its toll, and Telford gradually came back into the game.

Carl Rodgers might have done better with a header off a Danny Edwards corner, which he put wide.

But the turning point came when Smith executed a double substitution, bringing on Steve Jagielka and Danny Carey-Bertram.

The impact was immediate as Carey-Bertram’s first touch was to head the ball into the box for Trainer to score with another looping header up and over McMillan.

Southport responded and Ciaran Kilheeney had his head in his hands when he saw a snapshot from a corner scrambled off the line.

But Telford held on from that point and even had one chance to win it when Trainer fired straight at McMillan seven minutes from time.

The victory at Haig Avenue in the FA Trophy earlier in the year was probably rather sweeter than this result, especially as it was achieved playing with 10 men for more than half the game.

Yet this draw is surely more important in the bigger scheme of things ad the delight of manager and players was clear for all to see.

The regular season concludes with two home games in the next week, and all attention now turns to Tuesday’s clash with Burscough.

One point should be enough and three will put Telford’s play-off place beyond all doubt.

The prospect of a third promotion in five years is looming ever larger.

By Chris Hudson