AFC Telford buck up ideas with late point

I don't know what was said to the team between Saturday and Tuesday, but it has made a massive difference writes Bucks blogger Dan Clark.

This was a complete contrast to the Bath game in that we just looked slicker with a faster tempo that matched Mansfield completely.

The team selection was slightly surprising with Newton on the left wing and Preston back in the fray, but it suited us well.

Newton did brilliantly going forward and tracking back well, communicating well with Valentine, who played at left back.

• See pictures from Mansfield 1 AFC Telford 1

It was brilliant to see Killock and Preston back together. I do like Whitehead, but the Killock Preston partnership is strong, and with both at such a young age, it looks to be a promising future in defence.

The first half gave me great enthusiasm in what I was watching. There were times when we seemed to be passing the ball at ease, something we struggled with on Saturday.

Our play looked fluid; we looked strong and players tracked back well to defend against a Mansfield side that mirrored the strong Eastwood side of the end of last season.

Trainer looked a completely different player, winning the ball everywhere in the middle of the park and distributing to the wing well. If only he could do that every game and we will look to be a great outfit this season, especially if everyone else plays this well too.

We still looked brilliant in the second half. But I was expecting our usual lapse at some point as it has happened at most games this season. And for the first time, it didn't happen.

Mansfield's goal only came after a period of play where they started to pass the ball well and distribute without hoofing the ball. We didn't fall asleep, their striker just used his pace to take on our defence and slot it past Ryan Young, leaving our brilliant travelling support feeling the same sense of despair reminiscent of Cambridge.

But, as always, and totally pleasing to see, we fought. We didn't give up and carried on playing the entertaining football we had been playing all game. The reward came with a coolly slotted finish from Chris Sharp, who although started to look fatigued towards the end of the game, gave his all and deserved his goal for his work rate.

Even though we drew, it felt like a win. It is games like this, with exciting tempo with a quality passing game, that keep drawing me back for more. Bring on Fleetwood!

• Mansfield 1 AFC Telford 1 - in pictures