Ryan Young saves day as Bucks eye top spot

How the Bucks would relish the rest of 2014 being top of the pile with Saturday's deposed leaders the next visitors to the New Bucks Head in Hednesford Town.

That depends on how new table-toppers Solihull Moors fare at Worcester City but all Liam Watson's side can do is take care of their own business, which they seem to be doing.

There is resilience and stubbornness in high abundance, noted by the way they came from behind for the third game in a row to net points, with back-to-back wins now recorded on home turf.

But, make no bones about it, they had the club's longest-serving player and their stalwart between the sticks, Ryan Young, to thank for it being three points rather than one on Saturday.

A second-half salvo through strikes from Tony Gray and Robbie Booth eventually saw off visiting Boston United, who had led through Marc Newsham's 100th goal for the club at the break.

But it was Young who made sure it was a maximum haul for the Bucks with a penalty save from Newsham in stoppage time, after Wes Baynes slid in on Ben Fairclough.

Boston showed flashes of an attacking threat early on and had their first sight of goal on 10. Jake Hall's pass allowing Indy Ajula to shoot wide, with his effort nearer to the corner flag than the net.

In the 19th minute, Ben Milnes blazed a volley from outside of the box out of the ground, with a ruck of bodies blocking his view of the target.

Young was called into action to clutch a low shot from Milnes on 28 minutes, who was put clear after an exchange of passes between Rene Steer and Newsham.

Telford nearly forced a breakthrough four minutes later when players rose to meet Baynes' cross from the right, but Gray was denied when his nodded effort struck the back of Sean Clancy's head.

It was scraps to feed off for both sides before Boston sprang into life and stunned the Bucks with an opener five minutes before half-time.

Newsham left the home defence flat-footed by his run to meet a through ball from Liam Marrs to finish one-on-one with Young, slotting home to the shot-stopper's right.

Rattled, Telford nearly imploded and conceded a second goal just two minutes later when Hall's finish on the left had the beating of Young, who had come out, but Neill Byrne was on hand to clear.

That left Watson with plenty to ponder at the interval and he made two changes, bringing on the recalled Dan Preston and Andy Owens for Chris Lever and Sean Clancy.

Preston appeared to be on his way out of the New Bucks Head after being shipped out on loan to Barrow and Stourbridge, so was keen to prove a point to his parent club.

Owens replaced Clancy on the left, his long throw an added weapon but restricted by referee Ryan Johnson, who made him shut the emergency exit gate which he was using for his run-up.

But it was Gray who hauled them level with just 45 seconds of the second-half gone, meeting a Baynes pass to beat defenders and finish through the legs of goalkeeper Lewis King when on goal.

However, parity would have only lasted a few seconds had Boston not missed a free header, Milnes nodding wide from Marrs' cross from the right.

King was down to gather a free-kick from McGinn on 53, while Baynes went close to a screamer four minutes later after letting fly with an effort which dipped just over the bar.

Gray, buoyed by scoring his sixth goal of the season, linked up well with Farrell, whose effort on the bounce from his pass landed just over the crossbar.

Farrell acted when others dithered a minute later and got his foot on to a loose ball to hook it goal-wards, only for it to again clear the woodwork.

Gray then turned provider in the 67th minute for Booth to grab the winner, Boston crying foul for how he muscled Carl Piergianni off the ball to put the pass through.

Booth had replaced Gray in a striking position by cutting inside from the right wing to receive the ball and hare down on King, slotting past him one-on-one for the match-clinching goal.

It was Telford's match to lose from there, but they were living dangerously by switching off for two back-post headers in quick succession.

With seven minutes to go, substitute Ian Ross' free-kick was nodded wide by Stefan Galinski, who did so again moments later from Fairclough's cross.

Booth could have made the game safe but was denied by a good save from King, who palmed away a shot from distance that was heading for the top corner with two minutes to go.

Then came penalty drama two minutes after the 90 when Fairclough went down with Baynes in close proximity, a decision that angered Bucks boss Watson.

Only Young could preserve the win and save the day for Telford and he guessed right with Newsham's spot kick to his left, not only stopping but collecting his effort.

Cue scenes of elation and a loud cheer from the home supporters, as the full-time whistle soon sounded to finish another topsy-turvy ride.

There's no time for breath in this promotion charge and it's by no means convincing. But, for end-to-end action, Telford are starting to become the hottest ticket in town.

By Craig Birch