Blog: Frustration for AFC Telford against Ebbsfleet

Blog: I can only feel a sense of frustration after the game against Ebbsfleet, writes AFC Telford blogger Dan Clark.

It is the first game that I have seen this season where we seemed to give up. We lacked the passion to produce any creativity and we never looked like scoring all game. To be fair, Ebbsfleet United aren't a bad side; they played the ball well at times with West looking the sharpest of their players.

We did appear to make Ebbsfleet look good though. Our midfield, starting without Richard Davies, looked detached from the defence and the attack in the first half. We didn't produce much of an attacking threat to their defence. However, there was a distinct difference when Davies came on in the second half, as he worked hard trying to spark some creativity in a generally lacklustre match.

We do miss Brown, who is hopefully back for Tuesday. His work rate does show how valuable he is and we need that in the final third. Sharp and Farrell have done OK recently, but I feel we do need Brown's work rate back in the squad as soon as possible.

We didn't start too badly, having a couple of chances now and again, but we never troubled the keeper. It seemed a complete contrast to what I have seen in previous games. Against Mansfield and Fleetwood, we were dominant; played fluidly and generally looked like a full time side. But Telford didn't show that on Saturday. We know we can play well and we know that if we carry on with the form we have had earlier on in the season, Telford will do very well.

Ebbsfleet's goals came from good pieces of play, although some of our players were at fault for the second goal. There seemed to be either a lack of communication or concentration from our players that allowed Ebbsfleet to break through the defence and allow Willock to slot home.

The most frustrating thing that came from this game though isn't the fact that we didn't play well, it was more that we know we can do better than that. We have a good bunch of players who seemed to have made the step up to the top flight of the non league pyramid quite well. We just need to create some consistency in order for us to beat the teams around us.

Saturday did bring a sense of frustration, yet I am hopeful for Tuesday. Forest Green are a good side, but the Bucks seem to play well away from home, so three points from the New Lawn would be brilliant.

We are still mid table and if the lads start playing like they have shown they can then I am sure we will start cementing our place there and hopefully push for a top half finish.