Telford Utd 2 Droylsden

Seven days ago, AFC Telford United fans were still coming to terms with their exit from the FA Trophy after a fourth successive defeat.

Today, they can reflect on a third consecutive victory, all achieved without conceding a goal, and are also looking forward to a televised cup final.

The win over Droylsden was key, coming against a side that had come into the game as one of their prime challengers for a play-off place.

Telford have now given themselves a bit of breathing space from the chasing pack, and that could prove valuable if they suffer any ill-effects as a result of the punishing schedule of fixtures that lies ahead.

Boss Rob Smith has spoken at length about the need to make the most of their large squad over the run-in, especially when they can look forward to playing every other day over the Easter week.

There have already been signs of that strategy over the last few days, as well.

Having shuffled his pack for the Setanta Shield victory at Barrow, he did it again by making six changes for Saturday's clash with the Bloods.

Back in came Lee Vaughan, Gavin Cowan, Jon Adams, Carl Rodgers and Andy Brown – all rested at Holker Street – while Phil Trainer, having been cup-tied, was also recalled.

It also meant the home fans got a first look at loan signing Ricky Sappleton, the man who scored the winner against the Cumbrians.

The Leicester ace impressed as well, producing his best performance so far in a Telford shirt.

But for an inspired performance from Droylsden keeper Craig Mawson, he might have celebrated the occasion with another goal.

Mawson did not deserve to finish on the losing side, making five impressive saves in the course of the afternoon, and he was all that separated his side from complete annihilation.

He kept out an early Sappleton header diving to his right then threw himself the other way a minute later to deny Trainer.

Brown was also thwarted when the experienced custodian scooped his delicate chip over the bar.

At that stage, the Bucks must have been wondering just what they had to do to beat this man – though, ironically, Mawson was culpable when the hosts did finally take the lead just short of the half hour.

Brown timed a run superbly to spring the offside trap and get on the end of a long ball from Adams.

The striker nodded the ball over the advancing Mawson, who had come rushing out of his box, then had the simple task of side-footing into the empty net.

Brown was a nuisance to the men from Greater Manchester all afternoon and was richly rewarded with a second goal just three minutes into the second half.

This time he squeezed a close range shot under the keeper's legs after a good ball from James Meredith had been flicked on by Sappleton.

Smith was in no mood to sit on what he had and made his intentions clear as he threw on an extra striker, Danny Carey-Bertram, in place of midfielder Liam Blakeman.

Carey-Bertram might have added to the margin of victory but was twice frustrated by the magnificent Mawson, who was again his side's saviour.

The prolific forward seemed certain to score when latching onto a great ball from Adams, but could not beat the man in the gloves, who made himself big and blocked the shot with his legs.

Within a moment Carey-Bertram was through again, only to see his goalbound shot tipped around the post for a corner this time.

The Bloods had not troubled Telford's goalkeeper all afternoon, though Ryan Young was finally called into action in injury-time when pushing Liam Brownhill's drive over for a corner.

He proved up to that task and Telford look up to the task of maintaining their promotion challenge.

By Chris Hudson