Ten things left to ponder for AFC Telford fans

Six goals were shared equally between two teams, a pair of braces, another Godfrey Poku red card, a dash of defensive frailty and a manager on the war path.

Well, we found our shooting boots, but didn't quite sort out the other end – and as it turned out, the leaky ship cost us a couple of points against a Southport side that weren't all that!

The fact we matched them, in fact got back into the game three times – twice with only ten men, speaks for itself.

Going forwards, we started to do the right things in the attacking third, particularly in the second-half.

Tony Gray's hold up play was clever and the introduction of Sean Clancy at the break gave an outlet.

So did Adam Farrell in the final twenty minutes, when restored to his central striking role – and Mike Phenix's bustling presence all contributed to doing the right thing around the opposition penalty area.

At the back, though, we continued to give away soft free-kicks that invited pressure on us.

Neill Byrne, who has been much-improved this season, struggled against the two pronged attack of Danny Hattersley and Richard Brodie.

He was culpable for, at least, two free-kicks that invited the Johnny Gorman to first score and then narrowly fire wide from.

A couple of players are still struggling to adjust to the step up, but one thing that isn't in doubt is their commitment and never-say-die attitude.

Despite going a goal down on three separate occasions, the lads were able to keep going and get themselves back on terms and salvage a point.

The first could have been avoided, the second saw virtually the entire back line switch off at a set piece, allowing Brodie to capitalise.

The third was just ridiculous, with Brodie finding himself virtually alone with the goal at his mercy.

Apart from the three goals, Southport didn't in fact offer any great threat. Rod McDonald, who is still short on match fitness continues to look our best centre back.

If he continues to do the simple things well, if he is allowed to settle down I can see him being a great find by boss Liam Watson.

Phenix grabbed himself a brace, getting himself in the right place time and again, on another day he could have had a couple more.

In his new role up top he was a constant threat – a constant nuisance.

Pace, power, direct running – he might not be the prettiest footballer, but he'll always put himself around a grab a goal or two.

It just looks like now the gaffer has the difficult decision with where best to play the tall front-runner.

Up top or out wide, he has attributes that suit both positions, but for him to fully develop, we need to see him settle on one and grow in that position.

Whichever it is, he'll still need time and the backing of the fans. In time, I'm sure we'll have the answers!

After the game Watson really wasn't happy with the defensive mistakes that have cost us, singling few out for praise.

There were certainly one or two telling contributions, but across the game and decisions made at crucial times mean you fully appreciate his anger and frustration.

For Poku to put the referee in the position where he is able to give him a straight red is just plain stupid.

It lets the fans down. It lets his team mates down and it puts us on the back foot.

We had just gone 2-1 down, but we were not miles away from the visitors in a game we had to fancy taking three points. Going down to ten only meant we were giving ourselves a mountain to climb.

All around me at the ground – people knew of Brodie's reputation as a wind-up-merchant or pantomime villain, yet Poku gave him the perfect opportunity to play out that role in full.

Fortunately, the Bucks had the last laugh, as we salvaged a point in the last minute – with Southport manager Martin Foyle trying to run down the clock with his late substitutions.

There are still plenty of things to improve on. We definitely need to tighten up at the back – but at least we are scoring goals.

Something that prior to Bank Holiday Monday was something of a concern. Keep the faith – I'm sure Liam knows what he has to do to put things right.