We can only guess at what was said in the home changing room during a 20-minute post-match lock-in.

But one can only assume the language coming forth from manager Rob Smith would have been blunt and to the point.

Because – and let’s not mince words here – AFC Telford were simply dreadful last night. They could, and probably should, have been on the end of a comprehensive hiding.

Let’s not get things totally out of proportion – this is only the second defeat in nine after all.

And Northwich Victoria – who finished the game with 10 men – deserve credit too, for the manner of their own accomplished performance.

But there is no hiding the fact that the Bucks were a gaping chasm away from where they need to be if they are to make any serious promotion challenge.

Squalling rain started falling just before kick-off, and Telford certainly looked all at sea on the increasingly greasy surface.

Northwich, by contrast, were sailing through the Bucks’ defence at will and created a string of chances in the first half hour.

Mark Danks looked like a fish out of water during much of his Telford career but he certainly made a splash last night, tapping in the first after just seven minutes when the home defence turned to statues.

Michael Connor might have added a second soon after when he was awarded the freedom of Shropshire to press forward before unleashing a shot which rippled the roof of the net.

Jonny Allan also got an effort in from the left edge of the area which forced Ryan Young into an acrobatic save.

The Bucks finally began to get their bearings in the final 15 minutes of the half, and were close to an equaliser when Jon Adams forced keeper James Spencer into a terrific save off Sean Newton’s free-kick.

Set-piece

Six minutes later they were level – and it was a set-piece which proved the Vics’ undoing once again as Newton swung in a corner from the right and Gavin Cowan headed home with force at the far post.

From there, Telford might have been confident of pushing on, yet they soon found themselves behind in the second half from a free-kick.

Questions have to be asked of Young and the position of the defensive wall, which provided no assistance as Allan’s strike zipped past to nestle in the bottom corner.

The roll of winger Danny Edwards in the build-up to what proved the match-winner was also highlighted by a clearly angry Smith.

“I thought Northwich were decent – they worked hard and they showed more desire than us,” he said. “We got back into it and I thought in the last 15 minutes of the first half we played really well.

“We started off the same in the second half, but two moments of madness from Danny have killed us.

“He was attacking with the ball at one end and lost it, then they counter-attack and he gave a silly free-kick away. Those two decisions have killed us because the goal was a shell-shock and we never recovered after that.

“The disappointing thing is that we never showed any heart or desire to get back into the game and, in fairness to them, I thought they could have gone on and won it by more.”

Smith was spot-on with that last bit of analysis. The final 40 minutes were a depressing sight for anyone of a Telford persuasion.

Lee Elam, Danks and the impressive Connor all could have added to their side’s lead – Young making two crucial saves.

Damage

Connor was sent off four minutes from time after collecting a second yellow card, but the damage had long been done by then.

The Bucks face the highly-rated quartet of Alfreton, Eastwood, Droylsden and Southport in the next month.

And Smith knows they simply must do better, declaring: “Unless we go there with 11 players who are really up for it then we will get turned over in all four of them.”