Rock-bottom AFC Telford are beaten again

AFC Telford United remain rooted to the foot of National League North after a performance not short of effort, but lacking the required quality.

Kevin Wilkin resisted the urge to make changes following the 2-1 defeat at Morecambe on Friday, feeling the second-half performance, but perhaps also a lack of real options on the bench, had earned the starting eleven another opportunity.

The Bucks got the worst start possible, conceding after just three minutes.

A slip under pressure on the left from centre-back Zak Lilly gifted possession to George Moncur, and he made a beeline for goal, swooping in from an angle and surprising Lewys Benjamin, beating the exposed keeper between his left arm and the near post.

To their credit, the Bucks didn’t crumble; they went forward, but found the Eagles content to sit deep in a low block, inviting the Bucks to try and break them down.

The visitors’ tactics worked, restricting Telford to set-pieces and shots from distance. At the other end, the Eagles looked to hit forward Reece Evans quickly and counter-attack, providing fast support to Evans. One such moment brought a corner, and although it was cleared, Eno Nto’s header when the ball was returned to the box came perilously close to a second goal.

From then on, Telford dominated, but poor decision-making and a lack of quality punctuated their efforts. Remi Walker offered a threat from set-pieces and open play alike, drawing fouls and whipping in dangerous deliveries, but Bedford absorbed much of what they had to offer.

Wilkin made an early tactical change, withdrawing Sam McLintock and introducing Louis Moult as an extra striker. The best chance of the half fell to the returning Moult, whose chest control and mid-air volley from a Dion Kelly-Evans cross was brilliantly saved by Laurie Walker, with the resulting corner bringing a Moult header that Walker pawed away.

Behind at the break, the Bucks’ momentum had been broken but they picked up again admirably, and the introduction of Jaiden White for Rio Owen at the break added fresh legs, Telford continued to lay siege to the Bedford goal, and Remi Walker went closest of all just after the hour mark, unleashing a thunderous strike from Walker fingertips onto his right post, the ball cannoning to safety.

Chances continued to fall the Bucks' way - Lambert somehow denied by a scrambling save and goal-line clearance, and later a strong penalty shout waved away when Lambert was seemingly dragged down inside the box as he looked to steer a through ball past Walker.

As the game progressed, Telford threw men forward but simply could not find the finishing touch. A couple of efforts from defender Orrin Pendley, on as a substitute, and thrown forward, were dealt with by a resolute Bedford Town rearguard who stood strong but did ride their luck to record victory and condemn the Bucks to a fourth defeat in six matches.

AFC Telford United (4-3-3): Benjamin, Curley, Kelly-Evans (Pendley 74), Lilly, Cawthorne, Fletcher, McLintock (Moult 34), Walker, Owen (White 45), Stenson, Lambert (Hilton 74’). Subs (unused): Hall, Mitchell.