Harrogate 0 AFC Telford 0 - match report

Telford appear to be the draw specialists of the Blue Square Bet North - but this latest stalemate with 10-man Harrogate had the bitter taste of a defeat.

Eleven times now the Bucks have had to settle for a share of the spoils from 33 league games - two more than anyone else in the division.

And though this point in North Yorkshire was enough to take them back to the top of the table - for one night at least in their game of title ping pong with Alfreton - it did little to cheer fans or players alike.

Andy Sinton's men had laboured through the game as they struggled to get a foothold in the game, but must have felt the tide turning when hosts Harrogate saw striker Gary King sent off inside four minutes of the second half.

It was an easy call for referee Gary Hart, King having lunged in two-footed at Stuart Whitehead right in front of the fourth official.

It's a football cliché that 10 men can prove tougher than 11 to break down, but Telford hardly looked like testing home keeper Mark Cook.

Indeed, their only meaningful effort after the red card had been brandished came two minutes from time, when they won a free-kick in an inviting position just outside the area.

Full-back Sean Newton had scored from similar range at Worcester earlier in the month but his luck was out this time as his sweetly-struck shot thumped the top of the crossbar and bounced out of play.

Ironically, the Bucks had been more dangerous in the first half, when the game was still 11 v 11.

Cook was twice called into serious action as Telford's creativity from corner kicks came close to being rewarded.

First Andy Brown saw a glancing header off Greg Mills' delivery palmed away, then Jon Adams was left frustrated by a fabulous reaction save to keep out his venomous shot.

Between those two near misses though, came a spell of intense pressure from Harrogate, masterminded by lively left winger Wayne Phillips.

It was Phillips who broke Telford hearts in 2009, his goal in the play-off final securing promotion for Gateshead at theBucks expense.

There was not so much riding on it this time, but he led right-back Will Salmon a merry dance and teed up a succession of chances.

Graeme Armstrong was guilty of wasting the best of them, producing an air shot when in acres of space 15 yards out from goal.

Even after Harrogate had seen King sent off, they continued to do more than simply sit back and try to hold on.

Richard Marshall saw one effort scrambled off the line as Telford found themselves pegged back in their own half.

And substitute Ciaran Toner looked certain to score when latching onto a long ball that left him one-on-one with Bucks keeper Ryan Young.

But Young was equal to the task, pulling off a fine save to match those produced by his opposite number in the first period.

Newton's near miss from that late free-kick at least gave cause for late hope, but defeat would have been harsh on a hardworking Harrogate side.

Telford may have lost top spot yet again by the time they play next — with Alfreton needing just a point at Corby tonight if they are to take over once more.

The Bucks have precious room for error in their remaining seven games if they are to stay in the title hunt.