Steve Kittrick hails AFC Telford's resolve
AFC Telford United manager Steve Kittrick has hailed the 'fantastic response' from his team as they snapped a five game losing streak at Torquay United.
The Bucks' 1-0 win, thanks to Tony Gray's 10th minute winner, came just four days after they had suffered a humbling 3-1 Shropshire Senior Cup final defeat to Shrewsbury Town's Youth Team at the New Bucks Head.
And he said: "We got a fantastic response and that is what I wanted after Tuesday.
"We has a long conversation after Tuesday's game and the players gave me a bit of feedback on what they thought of it.
"I took their thoughts into it, the things they said and we did well on Saturday.
"We spoke about what we wanted on Saturday, an early goal, and then they have got to come and break us down.
"I am not going to talk too much about Tuesday. They know what my feelings were about it. We were in the changing rooms until 10.10pm.
"But we prepared right on Saturday, we did a good job and it is pleasing when things work out like they have."
Telford could have won against Torquay by more than the one goal. They had a penalty appeal turned down in the first half after striker Ross Dyer appeared to be brought down in the box,
And then Gray saw a second half penalty saved by Gulls goalkeeper Martin Rice after Sean Clancy had been fouled in the area.
Kittrick said: "Tony came to me afterwards and said: "I changed my mind."
"And I have said "Well don't do that next time." And I think at 2-0 it would have been a different game.
"Once the keeper made a half-decent save we had to fight and believe, but the big thing is that we defended ever-so-well.
"Ian Sharps has done well but everyone around him has as well. Danny Ventre has done better in midfield.
"We told him we wanted him to get a bit tighter and he has done that, and after 20 minutes they were getting frustrated."
Kittrick also changed formation for the match, using Sean Clancy and Adam Farrell as wingers to provide more width.
He was delighted with the way the team adapted to the system and believes this result has revived their Conference Premier survival hopes with 11 games to play.
He said: "We went 4-2-3-1 where Adam Farrell and Sean Clancy could sit and make it 4-4-2 if we needed, and I have given Tony Gray the space to do what he does.
"it worked well. I listened to what one or two of the players had to say on Tuesday, we put one or two things in to place and I have got a response - and it is game on again."
