Blog: A win at Stockport could get AFC Telford back on track

I feel like I need to be initiated again as it has been so long since our last game.

Just as we have started to get our season back on track, the fixture list has become increasingly stop-start due to our clever, cunning plan to manage other distractions by eradicating them at the first hurdle.

In the first instance, this seems to have given the Bucks the opportunity to freshen themselves up, the players have hopefully managed to shake the flu bug that threatened to spill out of control and the squad has had the chance to bond further – added to the fact we are unbeaten in four league games, the increased togetherness and spirit can only have a positive impact on the upcoming run of games – starting on Saturday with the visit to Stockport County.

The former football league giants still seem to be in a dramatic fall from grace that currently appears to show no signs of halting. Defeated by a solitary strike by former Telford eccentric, 'Dancing' Jimmy Turner (now turning out for Rushall Olympic) – County, sitting in the bottom half of the Skrill North, have hardly set the world alight to date, despite this being the lowest level they have played at in their existence.

Saying that however, I'm sure we will come up against tough opponents, a side we have failed to beat in four attempts, so far – all encounters in the guise of AFC Telford United ending in stalemate. Here's hoping for victory at the fifth attempt, thereby boosting our own promotion push as we look to hang on to the coat tails of Hednesford who I believe will have their heads turned somewhat with their upcoming home tie against Crawley looming on the horizon.

The Hatters have plenty of experience in their squad. Some that pulled on a Bucks' shirt last season with little distinction – Ian Craney – and others that we have come up against, both in the North and our two seasons in the Premier. From what I recall, they are players that you can get under the skin of, get around them, rile them up – let them play at our peril, but compete and win our personal battles and we will have enough to register three points. Hopefully the players haven't forgotten what to do on match day!

Our evolving style that we have seen of late, will hopefully also be too much for Jamie Hand, who was very bitter earlier in the season that he didn't do enough to attract the attention of Liam Watson and bemoaned the fact that we were more akin to a rugby team than a football team. Let's hope that we can leave him bemoaning the fact his side were out thought and out fought.

Following hot on the heels of Stockport, we travel to Brackley - this time against one of the leagues' big spenders. Brackley have one of the tightest defences and could prove to be another stiff challenge for us. I don't want to get ahead of ourselves though, we must take it one game at a time, even if we do have four games in 10 days (with us hosting Stalybridge and Vauxhall, the following Saturday and Tuesday) after our double away header.

After a pretty redundant October, the games really are coming up thick and fast – so get yourself along and cheer on the boys as they look to amass as many points as possible in their quest to climb the league!

Come on Telford! Do the county proud!