Gainsborough 1 Telford 1 - Report and pictures

Despite going ahead early through Dwayne Samuels, the Bucks were instantly pegged back and survived a second-half onslaught, with Curtis Tilt dismissed late one.

The visitors were quicker out of the traps in Lincolnshire and rewarded with barely four minutes on the clock through Samuels' opener.

A typical long throw from Tom Tonks paid dividends as the hosts were unable to clear and the ball fell to the telford full-back who hammed a half-volley into the top corner from the penalty spot.

Celebrations were anything but muted as the whole squad headed to Rob Smith and Larry Chambers in euphoric celebration.

AFC Telford United (4-3-3): Burgoyne, Samuels, Campion, Tilt, Hutchison (Grogan, 70), Rea (c), Tonks (Dawson, 62), Clancy, Bancessi (Cofie, 54), Rowe, Peniket

Unused: Reid, Hibbert.

Gainsborough Trinity: Budtz, Roma (c), Lacey, Wildin, D'Laryea, Picton, Russell, Richards (Davis, 62), Newsham, Reid (Stamp, 75), Yates

Unused: Binns, Bemrose, Hedge.

Attendance: 404

Curtis Tilt and Graham Hutchison, at the heart of the Bucks' defence, were quickly called upon after the goal, dealing with a number of high balls into the box.

Goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne was untroubled right until the hosts drew level 16 minutes in, a move from the Trinity right side saw Marc Newsham bundles over from Tilt.

But as Telford paused and play continued - former Kidderminster Harriers man and Trinity debutant Craig Reid bent into the top corner.

As the game opened up Telford went back down the other end and almost profited from another long Tonks throw but, after a few rebounds, Trinity are able to clear.

The Bucks were rocking and fortunate not to fall behind immediately as Burgoyne was called into action again.

The on-loan Wolves shot-stopper did well to parry away a Simon Russell strike at his near post.

In a game not for the purists, Telford loss their way and the hosts gained the advantage without creating too much.

The surface was bobbly and cutting up, rendering any kind of football on the deck extremely difficult.

As the break approached Telford were really under the cosh and extremely fortunate to survive a problem of their own creation.

Sean Clancy whipped in a poor free-kick from the right that did not beat the first man and from that moment, Trinity broke at a sparse Bucks backline.

The lively Kane Richards worked a cross on the right side towards Reid who cushioned for strike partner Newsham who somehow hooked over from six yards out.

Eusebio Bancessi had been a bright spark for Telford on his debut, the winger was not afraid to get his head down and run at a retreating Gainsborough defence.

The youngster ran the length of the Northolme pitch on a couple of occasions, riding several challenges, before seeing the move fizzle out in the Trinity box.

The second period began at a high pace and Telford forged themselves a golden opportunity with Jan Budtz making a terrific save and the woodwork coming to the hosts' rescue

Tonks' launched throw is again not dealt with and Hutchison's header and kept out down low from Budtz, who could only watch as Ryan Rowe stabbed the rebound onto the post.

A couple of minutes later saw Burgoyne keep the Bucks level.

Richards escaped inside Darren Campion and his low cross flicked off Samuels and looks to have wrong-footed the keeper, who reacted superbly to keep it out.

Trinity's keeper Budtz got away with one as he is caught out of position trying to deal with a high ball, Peniket tries to take advantage but twists and turns when perhaps should have let fly.

Clancy almost handed the hosts a goal, slipping a poor back pass without looking towards Burgoyne, goalscorer Reid charged onto it and slipped a finish beyond the keeper but wide for the Bucks.

With Hutchison struggling with a leg injury as well as having his head bandaged in the second half, Burgoyne's goal came under fire again.

This time it was top defending from Samuels to get Telford off the hook as sub Liam Davis strike, which looked goalbound, flicked off the full-back and flashed wide.

Trinity skipper Dominic Roma's fierce drive from the resulting corner saw a top save from Burgoyne amid a number of bodies.

From nowhere Telford were afforded a huge opening as sub John Cofie's flicked header played Rowe in on the inside channel who volleys wide at the near post when well placed.

More good work from the lively Cofie saw him cross left-footed towards Clancy, who threws a head at it but couldn't connect properly.

As Telford edged on the front foot and sent bodies forward they were almost made to pay, Trinity broke and with three men spare made a mess of it with a loose touch seeing the move break down.

With the game swinging one way and the other heading into the final 10 minutes, Telford had their best opening as from a recycled weak corner, Cofie's snapshot drew a terrific low stop from Budtz.

The rebound looked like being tapped in by Rowe but a well-timed blocked kept it out, with Rowe calling for handball.

Amid the resulting corner, the visitors were reduced to 10 men as Tilt was showed a second yellow for descent in a busy penalty area.

With Rowe barely functioning following a knock and Tilt in an early bath, Telford limped over the line and were almost made to pay within five added minutes.

Russell's 20 yard drive flew inches wide of Burgoyne's post before the midfielder was afforded another opportunity after being played in but the shot-stopper made another vital stop as the Bucks hung on.