A moment of madness undid 90 minutes of good work as AFC Telford United produced one of their best displays of the season – for no reward.

They were just seconds from earning a point – and even that would have been the least they deserved after containing a strong Droylsden side.

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But they were undone at the death by a free-kick that pierced the flimsiest of defensive walls then went in through the legs of red-faced keeper Ryan Young.

It was Carl Rodgers who committed the decisive foul, though he claimed he won the ball cleanly and may have had a good case.

Nonetheless, what came next was an instruction manual in how not to defend a set-piece.

The defensive wall the Bucks put up was too small, and too loose.

And, when Tony Gray’s free-kick penetrated all too easily, Young should still have gathered comfortably – instead letting the ball pass through his legs.

There was barely time for the Bucks to muster a response, leaving assistant manager Larry Chambers to reflect on a frustrating conclusion.

“It’s come through the wall and you’d have expected him to save it,” he said.

“I’m not going to crucify him, but it was disappointing.”

The Bloods had taken an early lead, though even that had come against the run of play.

They struck when breaking swiftly from a Telford corner, bursting down the left flank.

Paul Brown supplied the final ball, Shaun Whalley converting from close range.

His celebration was not quite as dramatic as that seen by Emmanuel Adebayor for Manchester City last month, but was just as ill-advised.

He gleefully ran in front of the Telford fans in the David Hutchison Stand, then continued by running a third of the length in the Sir Stephen Roberts Stand in what was a clearly provocative gesture.

It set the tone for some repeated acts of poor sportsmanship from the visitors, who finished with six bookings and then engaged in some unseemly goading after the final whistle that led to a stand-off between Bucks boss Rob Smith and opposite number Dave Pace.

Still, they were at least temporarily silenced when Telford equalised just 10 minutes later with a stunning goal-of-the-season contender from Steve Torpey.

He belted in a fabulous strike from fully 35 yards that screamed past keeper Chris Howarth into the top corner.

It was Torpey’s first start since the end of August, but his fourth goal and – though he was substituted five minutes from the end – a timely reminder of his abilities.

“I think he had a good game – Steve Torpey showed why we signed him in the first place,” said Chambers.

“He gets at people, he causes problems and he’s a constant threat. He was a thorn in their side throughout the game.

“We brought him off just because he got tired, but he scored a great goal and he was one of a number of players who had a good game.”

Telford had the better of the second half, with Lee Vaughan, Jon Adams and Liam Blakeman all going close with efforts just off target.

Droylsden had their moments too, and Young showed what a good shot-stopper he is with a terrific save to keep out an angled drive from Gray.

Phil Trainer should have put the hosts in front 12 minutes from time when he broke clear and dragged Howarth out of position, but his side-footed effort came back out off the inside of the post.

The Bloods broke from that straight away, Simon Yeo with a blistering strike to which Young could only get a fingertip – though that was enough to slow the ball and Stuart Whitehead got back to hook it off the line.

It seemed that would be it, but the drama was to reach a sickening crescendo in the final seconds and condemn Telford to a second straight home league defeat.

It will feel scant consolation right now, but they will not lose too many more if they can just maintain this level of performance for the rest of the season.

By Chris Hudson