Bullish Bucks eye the leaders
Birthday boy Rob Smith today looked back at a perfect weekend for AFC Telford United in the Blue Square North and insisted: "We can catch Kettering." Birthday boy Rob Smith today looked back at a perfect weekend for AFC Telford United in the Blue Square North and insisted: "We can catch Kettering." The Bucks maintained the chase for the title on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Hyde United, closing the gap to six points as leaders Kettering drew 0-0 with third-placed Harrogate. While the Poppies remain strong favourites, Smith, who turned 42 today, believes his side are now fully equipped to launch a serious challenge. Check out our match photo gallery here and read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Rob Smith." class="imageframe alignright" height="130" src="http://www.shropshirestar.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/buckstm.jpg" width="175"/>Birthday boy Rob Smith today looked back at a perfect weekend for AFC Telford United in the Blue Square North and insisted: "We can catch Kettering."The Bucks maintained the chase for the title on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Hyde United, closing the gap to six points as leaders Kettering drew 0-0 with third-placed Harrogate.
While the Poppies remain strong favourites, Smith, who turned 42 today, believes his side are now fully equipped to launch a serious challenge.
"We were the only team out of the top seven that won, so it couldn't have been a better weekend," said Smith. "I keep looking at our fixtures and it worries me because we've got a tough run-in.
"But we're about four or five wins away from cementing a play-off place and we've got to keep picking points up week-in-week-out.
Stronger
"Our home record is terrific but we need to do better away. If we can do that then I don't think it's impossible to catch Kettering, but we've had too many hard luck stories away from home.
"We're looking stronger at the back now, though, and I think we're better equipped for getting results away.
"With Stuart Whitehead and Dave Roberts coming in there's healthy competition at the back now, and I'd be surprised if we don't keep a few more clean sheets."
Smith was delighted by the display of 19-year-old loan ace Roberts, who slotted in at centre-back after just one training session with his new team-mates.
"He was very steady, nothing glamorous but he came in and looked like he'd played there all season for us," the Telford chief added.
"The back three defended well and Jimmy (Turner) had a stormer. The two lads in midfield (Jon Adams and Gary Fitzpatrick) were out of this world.
Meanwhile, former Telford keeper Stuart Brock is close to agreeing a deal with Willenhall after training with the Lockmen over the last week.