Ryley is the hero for AFC Telford United

Three points may not have AFC Telford United living the life of Ryley, but they were certainly living in the moment when substitute Kian Ryley smashed home an added-time winner to break the Darlington's resistance.

It was a game where the Bucks probably just needed the result, however it came, and although they remain in the bottom four, they extended a gap over their vanquished visitors.

With the rare luxury of a full bench, Bucks boss Kevin Wilkin made two changes to his starting XI from the side that was defeated 2-1 at Chorley a week earlier.

Matt Curley got the all-clear to return after an absence due to a hairline elbow fracture, while Charlie Williams moved to a more customary wide attacking role after deputising.

Sam McLintock also got the nod to start, replacing Shrewsbury Town loanee Isaac England in midfield.

With both teams starting the day in the National North bottom four, it was no surprise that real quality was lacking.

Set-pieces looked the visitors’ likeliest threat, and a Paddy McLaughlin free-kick from wide on the right was headed comfortably over the bar before the visitors struck the game’s first goal.

In the 17th minute, Jacob Hazel nudged Orrin Pendley off the ball as it was played into the left channel; Jacob turned and instantly struck the ball over Brandon Hall from the left edge of the box, stunning the hosts.

The Bucks took a few minutes to mount a response, with Remi Walker's free-kick heading for the top-right corner until Bobby Jones reached up to tip over and concede a corner.

Jones parried an effort at the near post from the corner, and then as the Bucks’ pressure grew, the keeper held low to his right as Alex Fletcher’s long throw was headed on by Oliver Cawthorne; Williams won the loose ball to get the effort on target but lacking venom.

Williams was then left on the deck soon after as Jones came out of his area to clear but making contact with outstretched arms on the Bucks number seven. The crowd howled for a free-kick and booking, referee Joe Moss, son of former PL referee Jon, gave neither.

After 28 minutes, Williams exacted revenge of the best kind. Sent racing onto a through ball with Jones to beat, he made no mistake, flashing a shot on the run past the keeper’s dive to his right.

Darlo responded, and Adan Rutledge curled a shot wide and high. Hazel was given a similar opportunity to his goal, when played through with the Bucks caught a bit too high, but his lob was off-target.

Level at half-time, it was the Bucks who came out fired up to try to claim the points. Louis Moult controlled a long ball and touched it off to Williams, who drilled another low shot from 25 yards and wide to Jones’ right.

The home side’s pressure wasn’t yielding clear chances, but the away side were looking increasingly stretched.

Both managers, Wilkin and his opposite number Steve Watson, the former Newcastle, Everton and Aston Villa defender, started to make substitutions around the hour.

The Bucks went close in the 75th minute, and they thought they’d finally broken through when Walker’s cross-shot was touched in on the line. It wasn’t clear by whom, and the officials ruled it was a Telford player in an offside position.

Jordan Cranston then retained possession from a set-piece cleared to the edge of the box, taking a shot but seeing it deflected wide as Jones’ goal continued to survive.

Darlo may still be wondering how they didn’t snatch victory late on as they had two chances in quick succession.

Hall saved the day from Lowes run into the box and Hazel was then sent onto a through ball before shooting wide.

The play switched back to the other penalty area in the time added by the officials, and Ryley missed a chance when he screwed his effort wide to Jones’ right.

However, as all good strikers do, Ryley kept going, and he was to win the game with virtually the last kick.

Picking up possession 40 yards out, Ryley ran, carrying the ball at the Darlo defence, and with no challenge coming he kept going, before looking up and smashing the ball low across Jones from the right of the penalty area and into the far corner.

The moment released a myriad of emotions inside the stadium, joy and relief for the hosts, and despair for the visitors.

AFC Telford United (4-3-3): Hall, Curley, Benning (Cranston 67), Pendley (Ryley 67), Cawthorne, Lilly, Fletcher, McLintock (England 80), Walker (Mitchell 86), Moult, Williams. Subs not used): Meddows, Lambert, Burrell.