When AFC Telford fans look back at the league season in May 2010, Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Blyth Spartans could seem very different indeed.

For a few minutes after full time on Saturday afternoon, however, there was disappointment etched on the faces of Telford fans, and in particular manager Rob Smith.

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An early goal from Blyth set the tone for an afternoon of frustration for the home support and although Telford equalised before half time, there was little sign of relief.

An unbeaten pre-season run, smattered with wins over higher-ranked opposition, had given the Bucks hope of blazing a trail for the rest to follow.

Indeed, the game offered flashes of the sort of swagger that the home fans crave, but certainly not enough to break down a determined Blyth set-up.

Summer signing Steve Torpey represented Telford’s best chance of making a breakthrough, with a string of long-range efforts that kept the visiting defence sweating.

But it took just three minutes for the first set-back to arrive.

A mistake by another new arrival, Gareth Jellyman, gave Blyth winger Adrian Webster the chance to send in a low cross that Telford’s defence was unable to clear.

And there was little that keeper Ryan Young could do to block the resulting backheel by Robert Dale, which dribbled across the line from a few yards out.

That goal did, in fact, spark Telford into action as they kept much of the possession for the next 40-odd minutes.

But Rob Smith’s talented line-up was clearly failing to make a difference in that crucial final-third as Blyth soaked up the pressure with ease.

It was telling, in fact, that Torpey was at the centre of almost every Telford attack.

His prowess from outside the penalty area was there for all to see after just 16 minutes as he unleashed a lofty shot that just sailed wide of the right post.

Indeed, that was very much the case 15 minutes later when another long-range effort drifted off target.

Telford’s mis-firing defence was almost caught out on the 34 minute mark when Young was forced into an excellent reaction save after spilling an initial shot from Blyth’s Stephen Turnbull.

So it was with a sigh of relief that Torpey equalised for the home side six minutes later.

Jon Adams found the ball at his feet in the penalty area and, sensing Telford’s best chance to score, released a pass for his colleague to despatch into the bottom corner of Blyth’s net.

It wasn’t a 25-yard screamer in the style of those pre-season goals against Port Vale or Llanlelli, but that mattered little as Telford celebrated a vital breakthrough.

But for all the drama at the end of the first half, the second 45 minutes were very much a let-down.

Once again there were flashes of the kind of dominance that may very well give Bucks fans reason to cheer in the months to come, but no cutting edge.

Even the introduction of Danny Carey-Bertram on 65 minutes failed to make a difference as last season’s leading goalscorer remained relatively anonymous.

Phil Trainer did, however, give brief hope of a winning strike after 70 minutes when he connected with a Lee Vaughan cross.

But he was unable to get any direction on the resulting header, giving goalkeeper Mark Bell an easy save to make from just a few yards wide of his right post.

It was, in fact, Ryan Young that gave Telford the biggest cause for thanks with just over ten minutes remaining.

Another mistake by the home defence gave Blyth’s John Alexander the chance to race clear and seal all three points.

But a low shot into the corner was brilliant saved by Young as he shot out a hand to save at his left-hand side.

Telford did look the more dangerous side as the game petered out, but time and time again, there was no cutting edge.

And if that talent in the Bucks squad is to be realised, then a cutting edge is essential.