Stockport 2 AFC Telford 2 - Match analysis

What look like being one of the easiest of victories ended up the most jittery of draws.

AFC Telford United appeared to be cruising to only a second away league win of the season as they opened up a two-goal lead without even playing particularly well.

That they failed to finish the job was down to some horrible defending from two corners – a problem that has cost them umpteen goals in recent weeks.

• See more pictures from the Stockport game here

And the Bucks were hardly helped by the ill-discipline of Phil Trainer either, the midfielder being sent off in between the two Stockport County goals with a pair of bookings in quick succession.

Stockport started the season as one of the fancied sides, having arrived in the Blue Square Bet Premier after being relegated out of the Football League.

But while their impressive set-up at Edgeley Park clearly belongs to a higher level, it was easy to see why their team have struggled in the top tier of non-League football.

They were happy to pass the ball around in their own half but surrendered possession every time they came forward.

Individual errors mounted as well, and it was from a mistake by the hosts that Telford initiated the move that led to the opening goal on 16 minutes.

A terrible pass from the back went straight to the feet of Bucks midfielder Jay Smith, who found Kyle Perry in the right channel.

The striker's drilled cross was inadvertently flicked on by County centre-back Carl Piergianni, dropping invitingly for Chris Sharp to blast home from six yards; the striker notching for the fourth consecutive game.

Telford added a second on 34 minutes, and this one was all of their own making – Steve Jones setting off on a mazy solo run that was finished with an ice-cool finish that gave keeper Ian Ormson no chance.

Jones might have added his second and his team's third early in the second half, nodding over off a pinpoint cross from Ashley Cain, and no-one could have predicted just how costly that miss would prove.

The hosts had barely troubled Telford when they pulled one back on 67 minutes, former Shrewsbury defender Danny O'Donnell inexplicably being allowed acres of space to head in off Danny Rowe's corner.

Still Telford should have been confident though, and they could even have replied instantly with a third goal, Ormson making a super save to deny Trainer.

The Telford midfielder followed that close call with a booking moments later, his foul on Rowe being the final straw for referee Amy Fearn after a string of infringements.

That should have been the warning shot Trainer needed, yet he brainlessly picked up a second yellow card less than three minutes later – the linesman spotting his petulant shove on Aaron Cole after the Stockport substitute had contested a 50/50 ball with Bucks keeper Ryan Young.

The 10 men now found themselves pegged back ever deeper and hopes of holding out were dashed within two minutes as Piergianni headed in off another Rowe corner in what was a virtual carbon copy of Stockport's first.

From there, the visitors' goal was under near-permanent siege and Telford were grateful not to lose the game – Young saving from Sean McConville and Rowe blasting a terrific effort mere inches wide.

See also:

• Andy Sinton to act after Phil Trainer is sent off again

• Stockport 2 AFC Telford 2