AFC Telford 1 Stockport 1 - match report

Dietmar Hamann enjoyed a crafty cigarette after watching his Stockport side draw 1-1 with AFC Telford United on Saturday.

Perhaps it's the stress of management taking its toll on the former German international, but it could quite easily have been the relief of escaping the New Bucks Head with a point.

For much of the encounter, which sparked into life in the second period, Hamann's Stockport were outplayed by a Telford side showing five changes from the side which lost 3-2 at Southport the week before.

And County, who have endured a mixed start to the season and as recently as 2009 were operating three divisions higher than the Bucks, struggled to create too many clear-cut chances.

It was one of the new starters, Dwayne Samuels, who caught the eye on the right wing with a sparkling display. And it was Samuels who wasted the opening chance of the contest.

Some poor Stockport defending meant both the wideman and striker Andy Brown found themselves clean through from Phil Trainer's clipped pass but Samuels attempted lob from 12 yards landed on the roof of the net.

Moments later the visitors carved out their only real opportunity of the opening period. Former Shrewsbury Town striker Nick Chadwick chested the ball into the path of midfielder Chris Blackburn but his rifled 20-yard drive flew just wide.

The opening period was at best a bit disjointed and at worst poor fare with neither side able to find any fluency.

But as the half wore on Telford grew into the match and James Reid and Will Salmon could both have opened the scoring. Reid flashed a shot past the post after a neat backheel from Brown while Salmon was denied by a superb Carl Piergianni block, made with such immaculate timing he could have been Swiss.

Three minutes into the second half Telford were in front. Sean Newton swung over a free kick and with all the attention on Shane Killock at the near post, referee Richard Wigglesworth adjudged County's Andy Halls had tugged back Brown in the middle of the box and pointed to the spot.

The decision left the visitors perplexed but Newton held his nerve to bury his penalty and erase any demon from last week's late miss from the spot at Southport.

But Telford were guilty of switching off in the aftermath of Newton's penalty and a defensive lapse in concentration allowed the visitors to level almost immediately.

Antonio German, enjoying a more central role after a quiet opening half, was afforded too much space in the middle of the park, advanced towards goal, sold Stuart Whitehead a dummy or two and drove a left footed effort into the far corner giving Bucks keeper Ryan Young no chance.

After the leveller the game opened up but any hope either side of building up a head of steam was punctuated by the fussy tactics of referee Wigglesworth.

But the Bucks, who introduced Greg Mills and Chris Sharp in a bid to win the game, stuck to their task and were almost rewarded when Sinton's final sub, Craig Farrell, saw a strong 15 yard header brilliantly clawed away by County keeper Matthew Glennon's fingertips.

That sparked a hugely entertaining final 10 minutes when the Bucks forced a series of corners without being able to find the clinical touch.

They came close when Mills, lively since his arrival, cut inside from the left and sent a curling right-footed effort a fraction past the far post in the dying seconds.

As it was the Bucks had to settle for a point and Hamann, who has now overseen four successive away draws at County, was able to breathe again.

Match analysis by ALEX JAMES