Blog: AFC Telford need to see off the lesser teams

It would seem that this season is starting to set a very familiar pattern for the Bucks writes Dan Clark.

Telford can play absolutely brilliant football against teams that we really should be getting thrashed by, and losing to teams that will be in the bottom half of the table at the end of the season. The Braintree game was a perfect example of this.

We started with Andy Brown on his own up front. Braintree have been a good side this season, but they have conceded a lot of goals. I do personally feel that we should have started with two up front as we have generally played well in this kind of formation and it has suited our attacking style well. It also would have caused Braintree problems, which is probably why they have shipped so many goals this season.

Instead, Sinton played Rooney just behind Brown as support. Rooney did a good job, especially in the first half, providing balls to the wing and also trying to support players coming into the attack. I do feel though that with the extra player up front with Rooney just behind would have suited us better.

Jay Smith has shown that he is very capable as a defensive midfielder to support the defence and distribute the ball well to the wings to create some attacking play. We therefore can afford to have a more attacking midfielder, such as Rooney, to give a creative spark to ignite the attack.

Credit must not be taken from Phil Trainer, however. Since his return to the squad, he has been a much improved player, showing the form he had last season that helped us to promotion. He was probably our most influential player in midfield at Braintree, working hard and trying to ensure we got a win.

The first half was very promising. We played the ball around well, passing with ease and controlling the tempo. The bright start was rewarded with a sweetly struck Jay Smith volley just after seven minutes. The 29 Telford followers thought this as a sign of good things to come. We looked dominant and we had scored early on, something that we have struggled with earlier on in the season.

We carried on with that dominance until the dubious penalty decision at half time. Ashley Cain felled Braintree's player, leading the referee to give the penalty. It did seem like Cain had got the ball, but the referee looked like he was waiting to give a penalty anyway, unfortunately for us. The Telford players looked deflated, and this showed in the second half.

Braintree came out after the break with a renewed hope, they started playing better, showing some of the form that has obviously won them games earlier on in the season. We had lost some of the energy from the first half however, and let Braintree come on to us. The Iron eventually got their reward from a scrappy goal that appeared to come from a defensive error, which pretty much summed up the half.

It was a bit deflating to go away from Cressing Road Stadium with no points whatsoever, considering we had started so brightly. However, if our form shows that we prosper against bigger teams, such as Wrexham coming up on Boxing Day, then I'm sure the lads will surprise us with a good result.

However, we do need to start using the ability we have to finish off games against lesser teams. If we do, then it will be a very positive result for us and it might see us further up the table.

Keep the faith!

See also:

• AFC Telford boss Sinton fuming at costly decision

• Braintree Town 2 AFC Telford 1 – In pictures Read more: http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/afc-telford-united/2011/12/19/braintree-town-2-afc-telford-1-in-pictures/#ixzz1gzDBra00