AFC Telford United boss 'disappointed' at goalless draw
AFC Telford United boss Kevin Wilkin admits he is 'disappointed' by his side's goalless draw with Harborough Town despite his side remaining top of the league.
The Shropshire outfit were unable to find a winning goal against their resilient opponents and despite wins from league rivals, they sit top of the Southern League Premier Central division on goal difference, with a game in hand.
Closest rivals Bedford Town won 1-0 at Barwell, but Telford still remain in control at the summit.
Although manager Kevin Wilkin felt the overall performance was pleasing, he admitted they’d not been sharp enough to hurt the visitors genuinely.
“It’s a close game against a side in good form, going well, with some very good players in the group," he said.
"Overall, I’m disappointed we haven't been able to get that goal and take all three points, but I guess you'd probably look at it and say that a draw is possibly a fair result, albeit I thought the way that we managed the ball and managed the game overall, I’m really quite pleased with.
"I thought we certainly looked the more likely and managed the ball really well in the second half. We've got to do that thing and stick the ball in the back of the net; we haven't, and we've come up a little bit short there today.”
The Bucks encountered a Harborough side who essentially shut up shop once Wilkin’s side began to tick over in the second half.
The visiting Bees enjoyed a few better moments in the first half, chiefly through set-piece situations, and Wilkin was pleased with how his team recognised their threat and responded to it.
He added: “They've got some big boys in there that are bold and good in those moments and situations. They can be big moments in games, and I think we’ve pretty much stood up to them.
"They got a near post header in the first half that you'd expect us to do better with and be a little bit more focused on, bu tother than that, I think generally, we've moved the ball better than they have, which you'd probably expect at home.”
Before the game, the Bucks confirmed that Alex Gudger had been recalled from his loan by Brackley Town, immediately heading straight out of the Northamptonshire club to join the Bucks’ title rivals Kettering Town.
Wilkin was relaxed about the development, feeling Gudger was not likely to feature in his plans for the rest of the campaign.
“I've made no secret that I want to get the overall age of the group down," Wilkin said.
"It's something where if I've been at fault, it’s maybe having players at either end of the scale, age-wise, and not enough in the middle. It’s not the be-all and end-all, and even some of those players who are a bit older still have plenty to offer and plenty to input within the group.
"Alex has wanted more game time and I’d stick my neck out and say that Sam (Whittall) and Orrin (Pendley) have done well enough for me, so it's something I couldn't promise. He wanted to see game time elsewhere, so I’ve done that.”
Wilkin also strongly hinted that as Gudger departed, that would create space to add players.
He said: “Yeah, definitely. The wages go back in (to the budget) to be spent. We’ve put some seven-day approaches in for players; equally, we're speaking to one or two clubs about bringing loan options into the group.”