Smith still backing his Bucks

Boss Rob Smith looked ahead to AFC Telford United's FA Trophy quarter-final replay at Southport tomorrow, insisting: "It's still all to play for."Boss Rob Smith looked ahead to AFC Telford United's FA Trophy quarter-final replay at Southport tomorrow, insisting: "It's still all to play for." The winners were this afternoon drawn against Blue Square Premier side York City in the two-legged semi-finals, with the home tie on Saturday, March 14 and the return game a week later. Telford had looked to be on their way through until they conceded an 88th minute equaliser in the 2-2 draw at the New Bucks Head on Saturday. For the full report see tonight's Shropshire Star

<a href= Rob Smith" class="imageframe imgalignright" height="130" src="http://www.shropshirestar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/rob-smith-2.jpg" title="Rob Smith" width="175"/>Boss Rob Smith looked ahead to AFC Telford United's FA Trophy quarter-final replay at Southport tomorrow, insisting: "It's still all to play for."

The winners were this afternoon drawn against Blue Square Premier side York City in the two-legged semi-finals, with the home tie on Saturday, March 14 and the return game a week later.

Telford had looked to be on their way through until they conceded an 88th minute equaliser in the 2-2 draw at the New Bucks Head on Saturday.

They had earlier come from behind to lead with goals from Jon Adams and Danny Carey-Bertram, who fired in after seeing his penalty saved – only to be pegged back via a deflection from a hotly-disputed set-piece.

"How the hell that was a free-kick I'll never know, and it's cost us," said Smith. "I'm gutted about it but we'll just have to go and do it the hard way.

"I think he was probably trying to even it up after giving us the penalty but we played ever so well.

"Southport seemed to come off thinking they'd won it, but they haven't. We're devastated we didn't see it through because I think we deserved it, but the tie's not over by any means."

Smith came under fire from some supporters for his second half substitutions, when he took off midfielders Jamie Vermiglio and Liam Blakeman as well as striker Danny Carey-Bertram.

But he insisted the changes were not a defensive move but rather enforced by injury.

"People are having a go at me for the substitutions but Jamie couldn't run, Danny couldn't run and Blakey was knackered," he revealed.

"We had to make the substitutions and people don't know the background.

"Danny's got a knee injury and it was amazing that he even played. He was struggling in the warm-up and couldn't go on any longer.

"Jamie's back is in agony and he couldn't physically carry on. I've got to protect my players.

"We'd love to have brought on a fresh striker but we didn't have that option.

"We had Andy Brown on the bench but he's not ready and he was only on there as another body and to give Liam (Watson, the Southport manager) something to think about."