It’s still all to play for – with precious little to separate two of the biggest names in the big book of FA Cup giantkillers.

The Telford United of old were feared the length and breadth of the land for their fearsome record in this competition, and Blyth Spartans, too, have humbled many supposed betters.

AFC Telford wrote the first chapter of their cup story last season with a terrific run to the first round, and they can still match that this term – despite having to hold out for 30 long minutes with just 10 men on Saturday.

Loan midfielder Gavin Hurren was the man to put his team-mates under pressure, petulantly retaliating after he had been shoved by Robert Dale in a packed penalty area as Telford prepared to defend a corner.

The rest of his team ensured his aberration did not prove too costly, defending manfully to set up tomorrow night’s replay.

But that did not stop assistant manager Larry Chambers having his say on Hurren’s indiscretion.

“In situations like that you need cool heads,” said Chambers.

“Gav’s apologised to everyone, but as far as I’m concerned it’s a ridiculous thing to have done. You don’t want to go out of an FA Cup tie because you’ve only got 10 men and he made it difficult for us.

“As it happens, we’ve got away with it, but I can’t condone what he’s done.”

It was a new-look Telford who took to the field, with a three-man battalion of midfield warhorses that saw Hurren and Carl Rodgers joined by new recruit Chris Nurse.

The contrast could hardly have been greater for Nurse, whose last outing came in the rather more exotic Miami, where he was playing for Rochester Rhinos in the USL first division

In the wet and wind of Blyth he still looked at home though, as the Bucks showed determination in abundance and fought with a pride that has been all-too-often lacking of late.

Phil Trainer, operating in a free role off the front two, created their best chance with a glorious piece of footwork to take out two defenders in one foul swoop, though he then let that move down with a disappointing shot.

Blyth only really came into it in the last 10 minutes of the half, though keeper Ryan Young had made one good save to deny Chris McCabe’s free header from a corner.

The hosts had started to get on top in the second, even before Hurren was given his marching orders.

From then, it was always going to be a rearguard action by Telford, and they responded by defending resolutely.

They rode their luck, Darren Craddock heading over and Chris McCabe blasting into the side-netting when he had the goal at his mercy.

But there was also some heroic defending from Gavin Cowan and Shane Killock, who threw themselves into everything to make a series of vital blocks and challenges.

When needed Young also proved an immovable barrier, reacting well to tip Gareth Williams’ deflected free-kick over the bar.

The Bucks might even have pinched an unlikely victory at the death, substitute Andy Brown showing strength to shrug off a defender wide on the left then unleashing a fine effort from an acute angle that goalkeeper Mark Bell did well to tip over the bar.

That was not to be, but there were still so many positives to take from the performance.

No-one is pretending the tie is done and dusted ahead of tomorrow’s replay, but new arrival Chris Nurse was certainly encouraged.

“A lot of things went against us in the second half, like the slope and the wind,” he said.

“Obviously we went down to 10 men so it was pleasing that we came out with a draw and take them back to Telford – and hopefully we’ll batter them there.”

For Chambers and boss Rob Smith, it was a satisfying performance to mark their 200th game in charge.

If they can now set up a first round clash with Lincoln, it would be a perfect way to start the next 200…

By Chris Hudson