It’s the biggest test of Andy Sinton’s reign at AFC Telford United – and eight months of hard work will be for nothing if he cannot find the answer fast.

Their form has largely been super consistent and they are yet to lose two in a row but – with the Blue Square Bet North play-offs looming large on the horizon – they have now won just one of their last four.

Another two points were cast adrift at Hinckley as they produced a performance that was worlds away from what we were watching a few weeks ago.

Telford could justifiably point to a controversial decision from referee Ian Dudley to reject appeals for an injury-time penalty.

But the Bucks’ truly dire record from 12 yards this term means that even if Mr Dudley had blown up when Greg Mills was scythed down in the area by Connor Gudger, there’s no guarantee that a goal would have followed.

It would have been harsh too, on the Knitters – who carried the greater threat at the Greene King Stadium and created by far the better chances.

Goalkeeper Ryan Young was to prove Telford’s saviour with a number of saves to keep the hosts at bay.

Young was unfortunate with the one he did concede, which was scored by former Shrewsbury forward Andre Gray, who had a loan spell with Telford last season.

Gray, with a free role on the right, made an unchecked run into the box after just eight minutes to get on the end of Sam Belcher’s cross.

His first effort was well-saved by Young but the loose ball dropped invitingly for the forward, who made no mistake at the second attempt.

The Telford keeper was soon back in action, saving from James Reid moments later then pulling off two corkers in the second half.

The first was to deny Gary Ricketts, who was penalised for a foul anyway, though Young would not have known that when he threw himself right to palm away a powerful downward header that was destined for the bottom corner.

The second came in the final minute of normal time and was a superb reaction save to keep out a bullet from Belcher.

Clear-cut chances for Telford were rare indeed, their first coming 11 minutes in when Mills out-stripped the defence and got a shot in from an angle on the left that Hinckley No 1 Ian Deakin did well to keep out.

Pace was to prove Telford’s most potent weapon and it brought them a 43rd minute equaliser care of Congolese international Yannick Salem.

He accelerated to latch onto Carl Rodgers’ hopeful header forward, leaving the defenders for dead and showing real maturity to slot past Deakin.

Half-time substitute James Lawrie also showed he was no slouch on 56 minutes as he broke free and had a shot blocked before driving his second attempt against the outside of the post.

At that stage Telford looked set to go on and claim the three points but Hinckley were not yet a spent force and went on to pose more problems for the Bucks.

Ricketts fired narrowly over the bar while Rikki Bains had his head in his hands when failing to convert a free header.

That glaring miss was one of the few bits of fortune that went the way of the Shropshire side all afternoon.

They saw defender Stuart Whitehead go off with a sore neck after 38 minutes, heralding the return of Liam Murray.

But their biggest frustration came at the death when Mills was clearly hacked down yet was told to get up by the referee, who later told the Telford management there had been contact. A strange verdict from an official who never looked completely in control.

Telford are at least still masters of their own destiny – but they will have to find some better form from somewhere if they are to follow their promotion dream.

Match analysis by Chris Hudson