Blog: Return of Luke Hubbins rejuvenates AFC Telford

The extraction of a tooth, that since it's removal has given me nothing but grief.

It was almost as bad as the performances of last season, sitting through an extraction for 90 minutes, week in week out - then having to suffer the following week, awaiting the next 'procedure.'

This season though, the wait for the next game seems an absolute eternity and, even with the missing tooth, the pain suffered is nothing relating to the Bucks.

Since Hubbins' reintroduction, the side have been rejuvenated. Calls of a one man team are perhaps a bit unfair on the other members of the squad, but his reintroduction can't just be a coincidence, can it?

Luke's pace allows us to play on the front foot, but also have the belief about ourselves that we can recover should we lose possession and, as a result, we can defend higher up the field. This is something I have noted in the time when he is off the field - we seem to shrink back into ourselves, drop five or ten yards deeper and invite more pressure onto ourselves.

This is where we could end up getting caught out. We have rode our luck on a couple of occasions. For people that may be a bit concerned, this is only an observation - and I only want to see us going forwards. Looking up instead of down is an enjoyable change - hopefully the injuries continue to clear up and the team goes from strength to strength.

We are now up to eighth in the league and on the fringes of the play-offs, with the Mariners of Grimsby our next challenge. They have drawn five times away from home and only conceded three goals. They don't score too many away from home either - having found the net only seven times.

We find ourselves three points behind them going into this game, but with our home form not quite as good as our away form. Another mammoth effort will be needed to take the maximum points.

More of the same is also needed from Steve Jones, who hit a purple patch (quite literally in our away kit) with two goals in as many minutes on Tuesday night, showing what he is capable of.

And with only three bookings in the last three games, it seems the players are noting their responsibility in terms of discipline. None of these yellows were for needless chat-back or dissent either, so it's a big improvement.

There is also a good deal on offer as part of Non League Day this weekend - if you have a season ticket for a Premier League, or Football League club, then you can gain admission to our game on Saturday (3pm kick off) for only a fiver.

Come on down to the New Bucks Head and see what's on offer.

You might be pleasantly surprised!