Boss Rob Smith has set AFC Telford United’s sights on three consecutive victories to reignite their claim for a Blue Square North play-off place.

The Bucks went down 2-0 at Northwich Victoria last night, missing the opportunity to climb up into the top five.

And the defeat means they have dropped a place to seventh, with Eastwood moving back above them despite not playing due to a superior goal difference.

But Smith is determined to ensure that setback does not prove terminal to Telford’s season.

“We’ve got ourselves in a position where we are up there again, and all is not lost because of one defeat,” he said.

“We’ve got to go on another run now, that’s the most important thing.

“We’ve got Blyth away then Farsley and Solihull at home and we’ll be looking for nine points from those.

“If we do that then we’re right back in it. That one defeat is not going to knock us down.”

Telford were beaten by two first half goals last night, and their evening was made worse by a second half injury to Steve Thompson.

He limped off just seven minutes after the re-start with a pulled hamstring and Smith now expects him to be out for three weeks.

But his replacement, former Wolves man Kevin O’Connor, staked his case for a starting spot, and Smith saw plenty of positives to take from the way they finished the game.

It may even have been a closer finale had midfielder Carl Rodgers’ 59th minute ‘goal’ not been controversially disallowed.

“I thought for the last 35 minutes we completely bossed the game,” said Smith.

“If you were going to be critical, I’d say we didn’t work the keeper enough apart from the ‘goal’ – and I don’t think anyone in the ground could tell you why that was disallowed.

“I thought we gave it a right go in the second half.”