Pictures and analysis of AFC Telford 1 Southport 3

There are still 21 games left to turn AFC Telford United's fading season around.

But after this 3-1 defeat to relegation rivals Southport, it is difficult to see where their much-needed next win will come from.

Just as they had at Wrexham, the Bucks produced an exciting first half and the game was very much in the balance right up until Simon Grand nodded in the opening goal from an Andy Owens' long throw.

But so brittle is confidence within the ranks at the New Bucks Head, that once they fell behind they never again looked like getting anything from the game.

Telford's defeat against relegation rivals Southport, and their disappointing draw at struggling Stockport a week earlier, have highlighted more than ever how little confidence the Bucks currently have.

The loss also again highlighted the team's lack of pace and creativity going forward as well as their continued vulnerability from set-pieces, as manager Andy Sinton conceded after the game.

The big questions now are whether the Bucks chief can bring in players who can add those qualities – and how quickly.

Had they had that on Saturday then the result could have been different as the Bucks matched the visitors for more than an hour.

The Sandgrounders almost went ahead inside the second minute from the first of several Owens long throws.

Karl Ledsham headed straight at goalkeeper Ryan Young from close range and Owens, himself, then just missed the target with a ninth-minute header.

Young then pulled off an excellent double save to deny Owens after Jordan Rose had mis-timed his clearance.

But the Bucks also gave their hosts plenty to worry about with a high-tempo first-half display which was epitomised by the performance of right winger Luke Hubbins.

The former Birmingham City man made several menacing runs down the flank, setting up a series of promising attacks and winning a handful of free-kicks.

And he almost grabbed the opening goal when he pounced on Southport keeper Tony McMillan's poor kick out.

A last-ditch tackle by James Smith deflected his powerful shot just wide of the target. But James Spray went even closer for the Bucks with a rasping 25-yard volley which struck the crossbar after 29 minutes.

How things could have turned out differently had that found the net. Telford were building some momentum, with debutant Gerard Kinsella and Phil Trainer also combining well in the centre of midfield.

But crucially, when chances did arrive, they were not testing the Southport keeper. Ledsham should have given the visitors the lead four minutes later but could only head Shaun Whalley's cross straight at Young, again from close range.

Steven Leslie was not far away at the other end with a curling free-kick which drifted just over. There was a definite feeling at the break that the game was there for the taking for Sinton's side.

But, as has been the case too often recently, Telford were unable to reproduce their first-half performance after the break. And it was their Achilles heel – set-pieces – that gave Southport the breakthrough with 25 minutes remaining.

Grand was given far too much space to head home Owens' throw-in, and the same player again escaped his marker four minutes later to nod in his second goal, this time from a corner kick.

Whalley was denied a third by Young from close range soon afterwards while Hubbins finally forced a save from McMillan with 76 minutes on the clock.

But second-half substitute Chris Almond killed the game off with a superb shot on the turn a minute later.

Jake Reid grabbed a consolation goal for the Bucks with two minutes of normal time remaining, his second in four games but it was too little, too late.

That his effort was only the second time McMillan had been called upon to make a save summed up Telford's afternoon. Yet again there were aspects of their play to admire, but Telford ran out of ideas in attack.

By Matthew Viney