Blog: Luton made AFC Telford good again

Organisation, commitment, a clear plan, a shared vision. Each and every player was 100 per cent committed to the cause on Tuesday night.

None of this namby-pamby 110 per cent, simply 100 per cent what it says, fully committed. Players proud to wear the club colours, proud to represent each other and our club.

From early on, they went out to impress and despite their mere part-time status, matched their hosts for 90 minutes.

Granted, we deserved to go in at half-time at least a goal to the good and could have had another with Gerard Kinsella almost profiting from industrious work by 'Captain Fantastic' Phil Trainer.

Trainer epitomised everything that was good about the team performance. After that, we had to soak up and absorb an awful lot of pressure, but did that admirably.

With Luton dominating, few clear-cut chances for the visitors were actually created, despite their expensively-assembled arsenal.

Having said, that Jon Shaw should have done better from six yards out, not quite adjusting his feet and firing over the bar with only goalkeeper Ryan Young to beat.

And Youngy once again excelling with an unbelievable reaction save low down to his right. On reflection, a draw was a fair result, although goalless was perhaps surprisin.

But in two games against Luton the games have been incredibly tight with one goal scored, none conceded and AFC registering four points to Luton's solitary one.

A better return from our meetings than our local Championship neighbours Wolves have managed. A record like this represents the ability that our boys undoubtedly have.

It should give them great confidence. Though, at the same time, they need to be reminded to approach every game in the same way, regardless of the opposition.

There is little point in picking up a point against Luton, if we cannot follow it up in games against teams around us, the less fancied sides. They have repeatedly been our banana skins of late. Alfreton on Saturday poses one of those such skins.

As I issue a rallying call for this fixture and implore supporters to get themselves down to the New Bucks Head and get behind the side, I hope and pray the boys come out in exactly the same heart.

Nothing to be taken for granted, but belief in a team ethic will see us along way towards achieving a three-point haul and help us climb the table.

Things that really seemed to help our cause on Tuesday, the re-emergence of Kris Taylor at full-back, meaning we had a calm experienced footballing brain – that was mobile.

Ryan Valentine, who has been struggling with his injury, being afforded time to recover and not instantly requiring a recall.

Especially considering the impact of the captaincy on Trainer, of which I have already touched upon earlier.

Will Salmon, returning to his best and possibly putting in his most accomplished performance of the season to date.

And, finally, the playing of Steve Jones in his more accustomed forward role, supporting the once again impressive Jake Reid.

Having said that, it's a team game – and if it wasn't for each and every individual team member that was involved on that cold and frosty night in the middle of January – we wouldn't have got anything out of the Luton match.

Part of being a football fan – and a Telford fan in particular - is taking the rough with the smooth, the ups with the downs. Hopefully between now and the end of the season there are going to be more ups than downs.

Starting with the game on Saturday: You know where you need to be, come 3pm! Let's see you there!