Nuneaton v AFC Telford: Bucks aiming to stay the course
Who would have thought that AFC Telford United would begin 2019 in the National League North play-offs?
Fans were keeping their fingers crossed for an improvement under Gavin Cowan – but not quite to this extent.
Many would have been happy to be in the top half at this stage of the season, so seeing them challenging at the top end of the table has come as a pleasant surprise.
And now, sat in sixth going into today’s clash with basement boys Nuneaton Borough at Liberty Way, the task for the Bucks is to stay the course.
On entering the new year in such a promising position, Cowan said: “Good, but we’ve got to continue that against Nuneaton.
“You don’t get a play-off place on January 1, it’s at the end of the season.
“So I’ll look forward to, hopefully, being in there at that time.”
Telford are well aware of what they are facing today.
After all, the two sides last met on Boxing Day, with Cowan’s charges prevailing 3-1 at the New Bucks Head, with Daniel Udoh, Brendon Daniels and Darryl Knights on the scoresheet.
The Bucks then kept up the momentum with a 4-1 triumph over Leamington on Saturday, while Nuneaton slipped to another 3-1 loss, at Brackley Town.
All signs point towards a Telford win but Cowan, who spent several years with Nuneaton as a player, knows not to underestimate them.
Speedy striker Dior Angus caused some problems last Wednesday while Miles Addison, Carl Baker and Cameron Belford all have Football League pedigree.
The Bucks are likely to stick with Udoh and Amari Morgan-Smith up front after both of them netted against Leamington – Udoh once and Morgan-Smith twice.
Daniels also struck in that clash, so he will be looking to make it three from three this afternoon.
It is the last match of his loan from Port Vale, but Telford are hoping to get him in on a permanent deal.
Cowan has a decision on his hands in defence.
Dom Smith returned to the side against the Brakes and performed well, but skipper Shane Sutton is back in contention after serving a one-match ban.
The Bucks are expected to stick with the 3-5-2 system which has served them so well recently.
Likely line-up: Wycherley; Streete, Sutton (c), White; Barnett, Deeney, Royle, Knights, Daniels; Morgan-Smith, Udoh.
