AFC Telford 2 Gloucester City 1 - match report
Substitute Sean Clancy was the hero for AFC Telford United as they came from behind to take all three points against a spirited Gloucester City.
Jake Gosling had put the Dragons ahead before Adam Farrell equalised with a penalty, before missing another spot kick in the second-half.
The Bucks' result only matched Skrill Conference North league leaders North Ferriby United's 3-2 victory at home to Harrogate Town, so they stay top on goal difference with two games left.
There was a sneaking feeling that Gloucester would open the scoring long before it came, such was the trouble they caused the Bucks going forward.
The Telford defence were all at sea with just three minutes gone when Billy Jones' corner from the left sailed straight onto to the head of Matt Coupe, whose effort dropped just wide.
Tom Webb had the home side's hearts in their mouths again on nine minutes, his shot taking a huge deflection off captain Simon Grand to wrong-foot goalkeeper Ryan Young but miss the woodwork.
The hosts' luck ran out in the 14th minute, when Gosling broke clear of the defence to slot the ball into the right hand corner with Young rooted to the spot.
Shaun Whalley posed the biggest threat in a white shirt and he nearly hauled Telford level on 25 minutes, hammering at goal from outside of the box, but his drive dipped just over the crossbar.
And his intervention proved vital three minutes later, when Ruairidh Winters brought him down in the box, referee Dominic McDonald immediately pointing to the spot.
Up stepped Farrell, who opted to go for Mike Green's left, the goalkeeper guessing the right way but unable to get a hand to the ball.
Whalley nearly put Telford ahead in the 34th minute, a strong hand from Green pushing away another rasping connection, with Andy Owens unable to convert the follow up.
Owens did force Green to hold a header two minutes later as Whalley turned provider, after he was released on the right wing by Mike Grogan's pass.
A half-time roasting from Telford manager Liam Watson appeared to have the desired effect, along with the introduction of Clancy and striker Tony Gray for Neill Byrne and Owens.
They were handed another penalty just two minutes in the second-half when Coupe handled in the box, handing the opposition a huge slice of luck.
It was a pressure situation again for Farrell and, this time, he couldn't convert with Green wise to his tricks as both went left, the shot-stopper parrying to safety.
Dan Preston should have put them ahead in the 50th minute, somehow heading over from practically the goal-line.
Matthew McGinn's free-kick had the beating of Green in the 56th minute but just missed the frame of the goal, as heads again went into hands.
It nearly cost them at the other end two minutes later when the linesman's flag somehow still stayed down as Billy Jones broke on the left wing with Matt Groves going for goal, Young parrying away.
Telford nearly surged ahead again in the 69th minute when Gray's ball over the top freed Clancy, who pinged the ball in from the right with Grand nodding the ball agonisingly wide.
But salvation arrived with 13 minutes left when a floored Clancy poked the ball through Green and into the net, as everybody launched themselves at McGinn's ball through.
