Boss Andy Sinton today gave a defiant response to AFC Telford United’s third defeat of the season, insisting: “Promotion is still in our own hands.”

The Bucks went down 3-0 at in-form Eastwood on Saturday to leave them five points adrift of Blue Square Bet North leaders Alfreton, who also have two games in hand.

Sinton accepts his side’s title chances have faded significantly but has called on players and supporters to keep believing.

“I’m still fighting for top spot, until it’s mathematically impossible we’ll keep going for that,” he said.

“I know that looked a lot less likely by 5pm on Saturday than it did at 3pm but we still have plenty to play for.

“If we have to go through the play-off route then it’s in our hands because we can do something about the games we play.

“I’ve said to the players that you don’t become a bad side overnight and we’re still in a great position for promotion,” he added.

“The lads deserve a lot of credit for what they’ve done this year and they’ve been given a lot of praise by other people and by me. I’ll stand by them but I want more than I got on Saturday.”

Sinton’s pre-match plans for Saturday’s clash were hit by an injury to striker Alex Meechan.

The former Forest Green Rovers man had been pencilled in for a start, with Adam Proudlock ruled out by a hamstring injury.

But Meechan suffered a torn calf muscle in training on Thursday evening, leading to a recall for Northern Ireland international James Lawrie.

Sinton gave a debut to recent signing Danny Williams, the former Hereford man coming on as a second half substitute — though he was unable to inspire an unlikely comeback.

By CHRIS HUDSON