Dejected AFC Telford United players at the final whistle

We all hoped this season would be third time lucky, yet AFC Telford United’s promotion dream now looks all but dead for another year.

After two near misses in the play-off lottery, it would need something of a minor miracle for the Bucks to take their season into overtime yet again.

It was always going to be a make-or-break week for their chances, with games against two rivals for a top five spot. They came up short both times.

First Eastwood left the New Bucks Head with a point last Tuesday, then Stalybridge completed a smash and grab on Saturday to really stick the knife in.

Telford can at least hold their heads high and say they gave it a go. They poured forward in wave after wave of attack against Jim Harvey’s Celtic side but the goals would not come.

“It’s the story of the season,” said boss Rob Smith. “In the last third it hasn’t happened for us, and the table doesn’t lie in terms of goals scored.

“We said to the lads not to get down (about this game), because I think we played as well as we have all year.

“We played well the other night too, and it’s not these two games that have cost us, it’s because of what we did earlier in the season that we are where we are.”

Telford’s chances were dented before the game even got under way, with a sickness bug having ravaged the squad.

Leading scorer Andy Brown was too ill to feature, Danny Carey-Bertram was named on the bench but hardly well enough to play any part. Left-back Sean Newton did start, but had to be substituted at half-time after being sick again.

It meant Phil Trainer was shifted back up front to partner loanee Mark Beesley, while new boy Matt Blair got an immediate debut on the right flank.

The Bucks made light of their problems to create a string of early chances – Kevin O’Connor dragging his shot wide while Beesley twice fluffed his lines.

Stalybridge looked comfortable on the ball, but their attacking intent was limited.

Skipper Keith Briggs did force Ryan Young into a save on the 15-minute mark, and what would prove to be the winner followed soon after.

The impressive Hankin jinked past Newton and pulled a dangerous cross into the box. O’Connor attempted to intervene but succeeded only in steering the ball into his own net.

Telford might have crumpled after that, but instead continued to press forward.

They won six corners in a frantic two minutes of sustained pressure, while Beesley and Trainer then spurned further opportunities to level before the break.

“They only had one attack in the first half and I thought we killed them, I really did,” added Smith.

“Nothing’s happening for us. I don’t want to bemoan our luck because I believe you make your own, but just lately we’ve not had a lot of luck in front of goal.”

The second period was less frantic, though the better chances again fell to Telford.

Carl Rodgers was denied by an excellent save from Dave Carnell, while Stuart Whitehead – on for Newton at the break – hit the post with a header from a corner.

Briggs must have thought he’d doubled Stalybridge’s lead with a 35-yard scud missile that whizzed past Young but cannoned back off the bar.

But the Bucks finished the stronger. They hit the woodwork again with an audacious shot from near the corner flag by Damian Reeves.

The fit-again Steve Thompson was denied by Carnell, who kept out a sweet half-volley, before two late penalty appeals – one for handball and the second for a challenge on Woods. The first looked a good shout.

“I don’t think as a spectacle it was a great game, but we won ugly,” said Stalybridge’s assistant manager Benny Phillips.

“If you beat the teams around you (in the table), then obviously that’s fantastic. It was a really important win for us.”

For Telford, they can but pray for six straight wins and a bit of divine intervention.

By Chris Hudson