AFC Telford refuse to hear Boston's war of words

AFC Telford United officials are refusing to be drawn into a war of words with promotion rivals Boston - after being accused of running scared from the league leaders.

The Lincolnshire club, top of the Blue Square Bet North, had made a request to play the Bucks last Saturday as both sides were already out of the FA Cup.

But Telford turned that down, prompting Boston boss Rob Scott to declare: "For some reason no one wants to play us at the moment.

"Read from that what you will. Some teams are still in the FA Cup and others have league commitments, but the ones that haven't didn't want to play us."

Telford chairman Lee Carter laughed off reports on Scott's comments in the Lincolnshire media, in which the Shropshire side were accused of running scared.

"Boston did approach us to suggest bringing their trip here (a game scheduled for April 9) forward to last Saturday but we didn't want to do that," he said.

"We don't like messing about with the fixture list but we're not running scared from anyone - we just wanted to rest our players.

"We're just focusing on our own business and making sure our own performances are up to scratch - we're not worrying about other clubs."

Meanwhile, Carter also confirmed that Telford will have a second blank weekend a fortnight on Saturday.

They were due to play Ilkeston Town on November 13 but the Derbyshire club have gone out of business.

And, with all the other Blue Square Bet North clubs in league action that day, Telford do not have the option to re-arrange a game even if they wanted to.

By CHRIS HUDSON