Phil Trainer: Step up was shock to the system

Returning midfielder Phil Trainer admitted AFC Telford United under-estimated the step up in quality when they won promotion to the Blue Square Bet Premier – but is now adamant they will beat the drop.

Trainer, who scored in Tuesday's 2-1 win over Kidderminster Harriers, found himself back in the starting XI for the first time since being sent off at Stockport County in January.

And the 30-year-old, who has played at this level with Oxford, Tamworth and Stalybridge, believes the Bucks needed a little time to find their feet at non-League's top table.

• Watch highlights from Telford's win over Kidderminster

"I have played in this league a few times and the step up has shocked me," said Trainer ahead of Saturday's visit of league leaders Fleetwood Town.

"It is a big step up and I don't think the boys realised how big a step it is.

"There is a lot of full-time clubs in this league now. Fleetwood's budget is crazy. It's league standard what they're paying and their players are league players.

"But we've now shown we can compete with the full-time teams. All we can do is keep going and doing as much as we can and making sure we stay up."

And Trainer, who is expected to retain his place in the side for Saturday's clash, believes Andy Sinton's men can cause an upset against a Fleetwood side on a 23-game unbeaten league run stretching back to October.

"We're going into the game with a lot of confidence," added Trainer.

"They are top of the table and when you're up there you are there to be shot at.

"I think we've got a good chance of beating them. We did really well at their place and obviously got a 2-0 lead but they got a goal and bit of momentum and unfortunately got the equaliser."

See also:

• AFC Telford 2 Kidderminster 1 – Match analysis

• Returning pair give a boost to AFC Telford