Telford 1 Lowestoft 0 - Report and pictures

The Bucks started the game rock bottom of the National League North but only seven points behind their opponents.

A single moment of skill from substitute Sam Austin was enough to find full back Dwayne Samuels in space to score the only goal of the game.

Lowestoft, who hardly created a chance, finished the match with 10 men as Michael Spillane was sent off for a high challenge on Dwayne Samuels.

The match saw Connor McCarthy playing in his last game, before his loan spell expired.

Tom Tonks was put straight in for his debut, adding some much needed muscle in the midfield, after being signed from Stoubridge Town.

A minute's silence was impeccably observed for football pioneer and legend Jimmy Hill and Telford fan Kenny Lane, who had both died before the game started.

The first chance fell to Sean Clancy who fired in a rocket from about 25 yards, which beat the goalkeeper but went goes wide.

Lowestoft got into a good position when a low cross was sent in, but Dwayne Samuels was able to duck low and clear with his head with 10 minutes gone.

Tonks launched his first missile of a throw-in soon after, midway into the opposition half and landed it on the head of Dave Hibbert, who could not direct his effort.

A nice move from Telford saw McCarthy jig his way into the box, before playing in Clancy who ran the ball out for a goal kick in a good position.

A strong challenge from Robert Eagle on Hibbert resulted in a yellow card for the Lowestoft defender.

But the poor free kick failed to beat the first defender and then Jordan Wynter sent another cross high into the stands.

Some nice passing from Telford lead to a corner, which this time was drilled low and hard by Clancy and eventually cleared with 25 minutes on the clock.

The home side were getting into some decent positions but frustratingly their crosses were generally either too high, too short or too low.

Wynter played a nice short ball to Clancy who found space, but sent his effort high over the bar.

Lowestoft had their first real effort on goal when Reed brought the ball down well only to blaze his own effort high and wide, which was a recurring theme for the first half.

A quick long throw from Tonks with 10 first half minutes remaining nearly played in Hibbert but the ball deflected off a defender for a corner, which again came to nothing.

Lowestoft's Harry Barker was shown a yellow card for a late challenge.

Telford went close when a Clancy corner, which caused problems in the box, saw the ball end up at the feet of Samuels whose follow-up cross was tipped over the bar.

Kyle Brownhill whipped in a lovely cross, easily the best of the afternoon, just too far in front of Wynter, which looked like the last chance of the half.

But the first-half nearly ended in disaster for the home side when the ball is given away in midfield.

Luckily, with Lowestoft boasting a three against one a situation, the shot was again blazed over.

Both sides started the second half with the same team and it was the visitor's who first went close but Brownhill dived in and cleared a dangerous cross for a corner.

Montgomery was forced to punch three more crosses clear as Telford began to live life a little dangerously.

Wynter made way for birthday boy Sam Austin, who turned 19 on Saturday, on 49 minutes and it was his skill that led to the opening goal.

A great cross from the right was drifted to the back post and rifled home by Samuels on 62 minutes.

It was a vital goal in the context of the season and McCarthy, possibly playing his final game for Telford, was soon replaced by Ryan Rowe on 64 minutes.

Hibbert nearly gifted Lowestoft an equaliser by sending his pass straight to the opposition but, luckily, the defence reacted quickly to the danger.

Michael Spillane was sent off for a high challenge on Samuels on 80 minutes, who in turn was booked for his reaction, while Shaun Bammant was also booked for too much mouth.

Lowestoft's made another substitution on 82 minutes replacing Harvey Hodd with Dean Mason and then a tried Hibbert was shown a yellow for hacking down a defender in the corner.

The visitors made their final roll of the dice as when Robert Eagle came off for Bradley Woods-Garness with three minutes later.

Harry Barker managed to beat Brownhill and get into a dangerous position in the box but his cross was blocked, and Hibbert was replaced by Lucas Dawson in the 89th minute.

Lowestoft nearly grabbed a late equaliser when Woods-Garness swivelled and looped an effort from 30 yards, which almost dropped inside the post but Telford were able to hang on.

Dean Mason was the final player to find his name in the referee's book for a late and frustrated challenge just before full time.