Leamington 2 AFC Telford 2 - match report
AFC Telford United were knocked off the top of the Skrill Conference North with a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Leamington after leading a lead slip twice.
The Bucks failed to win for the first time in eight games but kept up their record of scoring in every away fixture this season.
Second-placed North Ferriby United capitalised by winning 2-0 at home to Stalybridge Celtic, although Liam Watson's side have their game in hand at Guiseley on Tuesday night.
Adam Farrell's penalty and a close-range finish from Owens cancelled out Danny Newton's equaliser, before Nathan Hicks levelled with another from the spot, all before half-time.
It took just 14 minutes for the deadlock to be broken, when a long goal kick from Telford custodian Ryan Young caused havoc in the opposition box.
Leamington defender Liam Daly inexplicably handled, under pressure from Owens, with referee Michael D'Aguilar pointing the spot and handing the Bucks the goal-den opportunity of the lead.
Up stepped Farrell to convert his second goal in two games and net his 14th goal of the season, steering the ball away from goalkeeper Tony Breeden, who had guessed right by going left.
But Telford failed to clear their lines in the 27th minute and duly paid the price, Newton capitalising while defenders dithered to measure a half volley that flashed under Young.
Parity lasted just seven minutes as Telford ploughed forward, the sequence of events beginning with Grogan drifting over to the right wing to pick up the ball in space.
His cross into the box was only half-cleared by a back-pedalling Joe Magunda, whose header dropped straight onto the feet of Matthew McGinn.
McGinn slammed the ball into the turf for the ball to sit up for Owens, who drilled the ball home from close range for his seventh goal of the campaign.
But the Bucks would not to in at half-time level after a long throw from former Telford winger Lee Chilton struck Owens in the arm, sending him from hero to villain.
Hicks took the penalty and sent Young the wrong way, slamming the ball into the left top corner for what proved to be the last goal of the game.
Leamington came close to a goal after the hour when Daly's header bounced off the turf and creeped towards the net, but Young acted to punch the ball clear.
Telford were later denied a winner when Grogan flew in action to connect with a scissor kick, which had the beating of Breeden but Ryan Higgins was on hand to clear off the line.
