Matt Blair on a break forward for AFC Telford Utd. Picture by James Baylis

Taken in isolation, this was pretty entertaining fare.

An AFC Telford team with nothing to play for up against a Corby side needing wins to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Against such a background it was always likely we would see two teams set up to attack, and so it proved.

Telford might even have completed their home campaign with a win had it not been for moments of defensive calamity that cost them dear.

And maybe it was their endeavour and heart that earned them a warm reception from the home fans at the end, despite a fourth consecutive defeat.

Sweet strike

“I thought we were unlucky, I really did,” said boss Rob Smith. “But it hasn’t gone our way, and it hasn’t gone our way all season.

“I really wanted to sign off with a victory, for the fans more than anybody.

“I know there are a lot of people who don’t particularly fancy me here, but I thought they were terrific at the end and I’d like to thank every one of them.”

It had all started well enough for the Bucks, who took a seventh minute lead thanks to a tidy finish from a tight angle by Andy Brown.

That came after Corby keeper Tom Cross had only been able to parry a sweet strike from marauding right-back Lee Vaughan, who was almost certainly making his last ever appearance at the New Bucks Head.

But the Steelmen had come into the game on the back of a three-game winning streak, and that had catapulted them back into play-off contention.

Having got themselves into such a position, they were not about to throw in the towel – and they responded by piling on the pressure.

Telford’s defence managed to hold out for quarter of an hour but, with 25 minutes on the clock, the visitors won a penalty when Leon Mettam went down under the challenge of Sean Newton.

The referee initially waved play on, but was forced to re-think that conclusion as the linesman frantically waved for the spot-kick.

Inviting

In truth it looked the right decision, and Mettam duly sent Ryan Young the wrong way to draw his side level.

The Bucks, to their credit, came back into it as half-time loomed and Mark Beesley spurned a couple of inviting chances before they regained the lead from a set-piece.

Kevin O’Connor’s corners had so far proved disappointing but he got this one right, whipping it into the heart of the six-yard box for Andy Brown to head home.

Corby protested that the goalkeeper had been impeded, but this time the referee could not be persuaded to change his mind.

Brown might have completed a hat-trick and all but won the game just six minutes into the second half, firing wide after a terrific long run and inch-perfect pass from Matt Blair.

And such is the fickle finger of fortune, that Corby broke straight from the resulting goal kick to equalise.

Steve Diggin, on as a half-time substitute for the injured Glenn Walker, was the man to score off Mettam’s supply.

That visibly boosted the Steelmen, and they went ahead for the first time with another penalty – this time after emergency defender Carl Rodgers had brought down Jack Defty. Mettam again made no mistake from the spot.

Smith responded with a double change, including the introduction of Danny Edwards – and the rousing reception proved the Newport-based winger, who has been out in the cold for most of the season, remains a fans’ favourite.

Lamented

Edwards, though, lasted just 11 minutes before suffering a cut to the head that forced him to go off.

And the afternoon ended on another sour note as Diggin added a fourth Corby goal in injury-time to seal Telford’s fate.

“We didn’t take our chances and we can’t keep a clean sheet,” lamented Smith.

“We made ridiculous mistakes and that’s what we’ve done all season. The bottom line is that we are not good enough, it’s as simple as that.”

By Chris Hudson