Star striker Adam Proudlock has been backed to fire AFC Telford United’s maiden assault on the Blue Square Bet Premier – after netting a last-gasp equaliser in their latest pre-season friendly.

Proudlock scored 10 goals in his first 10 appearances for the Bucks after signing at the end of September last season.

But he scored just one more goal in their promotion-winning campaign and had drawn a blank in three friendly outings so far this summer before the arrival of League Two side Cheltenham on Saturday.

He came on with a little over half an hour to go against the Robins and scored a 93rd minute goal to earn the Bucks a draw that their performance fully merited.

“Results don’t mean a great deal at this stage but I never like losing games and I thought it would have been an injustice had we lost that one,” said manager Andy Sinton.

“I thought we at least partly got our rewards with that last minute goal and I am delighted for Proudlock because he thrives on goals and it’s been a while since his last one so maybe that might kick-start him.”

Telford had the better of the first half, with Andy Brown particularly unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet.

His first effort, a strong header off a James Reid corner, was well saved by keeper Mike Green.

And he went even closer later in the first period with a curling effort that this time had Green beaten but came crashing back off the post.

In between those two incidents, Green also had to make a point-blank block to deny Craig Farrell, who had latched onto a long ball over the top from Richard Davies.

Cheltenham contained the Bucks more effectively in the second half and took the lead courtesy of a freak goal from substitute Jeff Goulding.

He had been on the pitch less than two minutes when, on 64 minutes, he launched a hopeful shot from 40 yards which soared over helpless Telford No 1 Ryan Young before dropping in.

It looked like that goal was going to settle it until Dwayne Samuels launched a late foray down the right flank and Proudlock provided a tidy finish to square it up.

By CHRIS HUDSON