The Verdict: AFC Telford United becoming the draw specialists
AFC Telford United were held to a 1-1 draw by newly-promoted Hednesford Town on Saturday.
The Bucks remain winless and will be left rueing a defensive lapse that let their visitors from Staffordshire back into a game the Bucks had worked hard to establish a lead in.
Bucks boss Kevin Wilkin made a solitary change to his starting eleven from the side that earned a point in a 2- 2 draw with Merthyr Town in midweek. That too was a game the Bucks led but couldn’t see through, and though the season remains in its early stages, it is a characteristic they need to shake off.
In a battle between two winless teams, it was perhaps no surprise that they had to settle for a point each in a contest that burst into life after a cagey first half.
Chances were scarce early on, though Matty Stenson blazed over from close range in the sixth minute after the Pitmen failed to clear a corner. At the other end, Lewys Benjamin produced a smart stop to deny Lenni Cirino from close range, while Sam McLintock's powerful effort from 20 yards was well saved by Sam Hornby before the break.
The visitors won a succession of corners early in the second half but couldn’t make them pay, and it was the hosts’ Jack Lambert who came agonisingly close on 55 minutes, his shot forced up and onto the crossbar off the body of Hornby from close range.
The breakthrough arrived on 65 minutes when Matty Stenson stroked home a right-wing cross from Rio Owen. Hornby was left exposed, and Stenson sent the home fans into raptures, putting the ball to his left.
The lead lasted minutes. A cross deep to the far post was headed back, and Jai Curran-Nicholls accepted the invitation, making ground to power a header home to Benjamin’s right.
Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing stages. Benjamin denied Jamie Cooke’s header with a fine save, while at the other end Louis Moult nudged Rio Owen through against Hornby, but the young Wrexham loanee was flagged offside. Cirino also tested Benjamin late on, but the goalkeeper stood firm at his near post.
AFC Telford United (4-3-3): Benjamin, Curley, Lilly, Cawthorne, Fletcher, McLintock, Walker, Owen (Mitchell 90+1), Stenson (Moult 84), Lambert (Hilton 84). Subs not used: Hall, Pendley.
Hednesford Town: Hornby, Cirino, Langston, Hayden, Harper-Bailey (Merry 72), Kinsella, Gorman, Curran-Nicholls, Rose (Sterling-James 64), Cooke, Mottley-Henry. Subs not used: Parke, Morgan, Abimbola, Sharples.
Attendance: 1,959.
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