Pictures and analysis of AFC Telford 1 Cambridge 2

AFC Telford United wide man Kris Taylor claimed before the Cambridge game that the arrival of new manager Mark Cooper would improve the Bucks.

And Saturday's performance was arguably the best display AFC Telford have produced for a couple of months.

But whether the new interim chief will be able to improve his side quickly enough to avoid the drop remains very questionable.

This was a committed, lively display – but ultimately it ended in another defeat.

And the Bucks now have just 15 games left to rescue their Blue Square Bet Premier League status.

Telford were certainly more creative in and around the penalty area than they have been in recent games.

Steve Jones's header, from Kris Taylor's excellent free-kick, required a top-notch save from Us' keeper Craig Ross shortly before half-time.

Phil Trainer's rasping low drive, which drifted just inches wide of the post minutes later, also had Ross looking uncomfortable.

And Jake Reid's excellent equaliser, after Andy Pugh had opened the scoring 17 minutes in, provided the kind of clinical finish that has been sorely missing from Telford's last three games in particular.

Reid's well-aimed header, from Gerard Kinsella's cross, ended a run of 300 minutes without a goal for the Bucks.

It was also the first time they had found the net in the first half for nine games.

Reid almost grabbed a second 10 minutes after the restart when Ross spilled Taylor's thumping volley, but the keeper recovered swiftly enough to ensure the chance remained untaken.

But there were, inevitably, still some of the same problems on display that ultimately led to the end of Andy Sinton's reign late last week.

Most notably, the Bucks are still vulnerable to set-pieces and it was from a corner- kick that Us striker Michael Gash struck the winner.

Gash grabbed his 12th goal of the league campaign when he steered Liam Hughes' swift drive past Young from close range after Telford had failed to clear the flag- kick.

Cambridge's opener was also a typical goal to concede by a side that has started well in many recent games only to be undone by a lapse in concentration.

Credit should go to Gash and goal-scorer Pugh, who strung the passes together to slice through Telford's back line. But the ease with which they did it will have annoyed the sizable Bucks following which turned out for Saturday's game.

Cooper also pointed out afterwards that his team did not create enough from the large amounts of possession they had.

Again, that has been a regular feature of the side's unenviable winless run, which now stretches to 17 league games.

Cooper will no doubt be working to bring in extra quality to help bolster the team in the next few weeks.

But the performance of opposition striker Gash in particular also probably illustrates the quality going forward that remains out of the Bucks' current price range.

Gash was at the heart of virtually all his side's attacking moves and could have left the New Bucks Head with a hat-trick to his name had he been a little more clinical.

He created – and missed – his first chance of the game after just 10 minutes, having beaten Jordan Rose to a ball on the halfway line.

Gash raced towards the box but, with Hughes charging into space in the middle of the area, opted to shoot and found only the side netting.

He also rattled the post with a thumping second-half strike.

If there is to be a revolution under Cooper it may well take time – and that is something the Bucks have little of right now.

Results elsewhere did not go for them and wins for Barrow, Stockport and Tamworth have made the 'Great Escape' that little bit harder.

Telford remain two points adrift of safety, but now Gateshead are the only side above them that remain fewer than three points clear. And the north-easterners have five games in hand.

By Matthew Viney