Bucks' striker Andy Brown

Leading goalscorer Andy Brown has been ruled out of AFC Telford United’s FA Trophy replay with Stalybridge Celtic tomorrow.

Brown was substituted at half-time in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Stalybridge’s Bower Fold after aggravating a groin injury that has been troubling him for months.

Boss Rob Smith today confirmed the Birmingham-based striker – who has scored seven times this season – will not have recovered in time for tomorrow night’s replay at the New Bucks Head.

But the Telford chief will be able to call on tough midfielder Gavin Hurren, having confirmed that the Tamworth man’s loan has now been extended for a third month.

Hurren has been cleared to play in the FA Trophy, but was unavailable on Saturday as he served the third of a three-game ban following his sending off in the FA Cup at Blyth Spartans.

“Browny is definitely out tomorrow and we’re just hoping he’ll be okay for Farsley Celtic (in the Blue Square North) on Saturday,” said Smith.

“But we’ve got Gav Hurren back and he’ll go straight into the squad tomorrow.”

Telford looked for a long time like they might be going out of the Trophy at the first hurdle on Saturday, having trailed to a first half goal by former Shrewsbury midfielder Keith Briggs.

But they rescued a replay nine minutes from time when centre-back Gavin Cowan got forward to head in off substitute Steve Thompson’s cross.

Assistant manager Larry Chambers was pleased to have got a second bite at the cherry.

But he was ruing a number of missed chances, in the opening 45 minutes especially, that could have won them the tie at the first attempt.

“There were far too many occasions where we got in good areas but we never worked the goalkeeper,” said Chambers.

“We don’t look clinical or look like we’ll score and all our goals seem to come from set-pieces, but the positive thing is that we’ll get some confidence out of Saturday and our strikers will come good again.”

By CHRIS HUDSON