Eastwood Town v AFC Telford United

The shoots of an AFC Telford United revival sprung up at Coronation Park on Saturday as the Bucks drew 1-1 with high-flying Eastwood Town.

Andy Brown’s penalty 14 minutes from time earned a deserved point for Telford after they fell behind to a Lindon Meikle strike midway through the second half.

It was a result, if not quite a performance, which points to brighter things for the Bucks.

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And despite the air of doom and gloom around the New Bucks Head in recent weeks the result leaves Telford just five points off top spot in an increasingly congested Blue Square North table.

“I’d have taken a point before the start of play but having watched the game, and no disrespect to Eastwood, I’m expecting us to beat teams like that,” said boss Rob Smith.

“But as we all know confidence has been low and the main thing is it’s stopped the rot.

“You’d take a point from Eastwood at the start of the season so we’ll try and take the positives but I don’t think it was a great performance.”

Eastwood posed the greater threat during an even first half with home skipper Martin Foster looking particularly dangerous.

The Bucks struggled to gain a foothold in the early stages but wasted a golden chance to go in front on 18 minutes.

Iyseden Christie was sent clear by Rodgers but as the home defence looked for a flag which never came, Christie blazed over.

At the other end Peter Knox and Ian Holmes both headed over when well placed.

After the interval it was Telford who started the brighter. Jon Adams went close with a dipping volley before Brown brought the best out of home stopper Ross Turner with a right foot effort.

But Eastwood hit back and moments after McAughtrie had a goal rightly disallowed for offside they took the lead.

Telford’s back four failed to deal with a long ball and Lindon Meikle scampered clear, held off the challenge of Lee Vaughan and calmly slotted past Ryan Young.

Smith’s response was immediate as he withdrew Gavin Hurren and sent on Stuart Nicholson in search of an equaliser.

The Bucks continued to heap pressure on the home goal and levelled proceedings from the spot.

Adams played a delightful diagonal through ball and Brown cut inside Ryan Clarke before going over the full back’s outstretched leg.

Brown picked himself up to take the penalty and made no mistake sending keeper Turner the wrong way.

It was no less than Telford deserved but Smith was left wondering ‘what if’ at the final whistle.

He added: “Look at the chances we had today. That’s the frustrating thing. When we create them and don’t put them away then you sense the opposition is going to go up and score which is what happened.

“Iyseden had a chance Browny’s had a great chance and they go up the other end and score. But at least we came back today and got something out of it. We showed a bit of character.”

After hauling themselves level Telford pushed on in search of a winner and the gung ho attitude almost backfired spectacularly in the final minute.

Rodgers sliced a pass in midfield and Eastwood broke quickly down the right. Meikle’s ball in was missed horribly by Cowan allowing a surprised Whitehurst the chance to hit the winner only for Rodgers, having sprinted 40 yards, to make a point preserving block.

And the Telford man, returning from a three game ban, saw plenty of positives.

“I thought we played well,” he said.

“We started the second half well but we didn’t take our chances and goals change games. You could see their goal coming because we hadn’t made our chances count.

“If we could get an early goal we would make things a lot easier for ourselves but we have to take our chances.”

By Alex James