Brackley Town 2 AFC Telford 1 - Report

The Bucks - who have now lost their last four league games - were caught cold in a terrible few minutes just before the interval, with Lee Ndlovu and Shane Byrne scoring for the hosts.

They pulled one back in the second half as Joel Dielna's deflected free-kick went in, but were not able to find a leveller.

Telford have slipped to 18th in the table, three points above the relegation zone.

Analysis

Telford were hoping to get back on track following three straight league defeats, including a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of the Saints.

They went into this encounter with a freshened up squad, having signed strikers Dan Westwood and John Marsden, midfielder Joe Fitzpatrick - who had a brief spell at the New Bucks Head earlier this term - and extended the loan of goalkeeper Callum Burton.

Four changes were made from the 3-1 loss to Bradford Park Avenue the weekend prior as Jon Royle, Zak Lilly, Marsden and Fitzpatrick replaced Jack Rea, Joel Dielna, Elliot Hodge and Dave Hibbert.

Rea, Hibbert and top scorer Josh Wilson were left out of the squad due to injuries, as was John-Paul Kissock who has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a broken ankle.

There was a pedestrian start to the affair. Both sides were keen to pass it around on an immaculate surface, but neither could produce the right final ball.

Not much happened before the home side went ahead in the 41st minute as Ndlovu got on to a wayward attempted clearance, and lifted the ball over the advancing Burton.

Then little over 60 seconds later, Telford decided to really shoot themselves in the foot as Paul McCone gave away a penalty.

Burton managed to save David Moyo's spot kick but, as has so often been the case this term, not a single defender reacted and Byrne squeezed the ball in on the rebound.

McCone injured himself making the challenge, and Ben Bailey came on in his place. Also, on the one occasion Telford carved out an opening in the opening 45 minutes, Lee Hughes skied it. Yet another capitulation from Rob Smith's charges.

Given how the Bucks started the second period, you could not see them making their way back into the game but one moment of fortune saw their hopes of claiming a point handed a massive boost.

Joel Dielna - who replaced Luke Higham - had a well-struck free-kick, in the 68th minute, take two nicks on its way into the net. Then, with the introduction of Westwood, the Bucks made a huge push for a leveller.

As a result of committing so many bodies forward though, they were left rather short at the back and it was Brackley who went closer to finding the net in dying stages.

Ultimately, despite improving in the second half, it is another defeat for Telford in which they have been made to pay for defensive errors. Those mistakes must be cut out if they are to survive in this division.

Key moments

26 - Telford fail to convert a big chance. Lee Hughes latches onto a long ball but, with enough time to take a touch and then pick his spot, his strike flies well over the crossbar.

41 - Goal. The hosts go 1-0 up as Lee Ndlovu capitalises on a defensive error before, coolly, chipping the ball over Callum Burton. A very soft goal to concede, especially as they appeared fairly comfortable at the back beforehand.

42 - Astonishing. Having barely been troubled for 40 minutes, Telford lose their composure and give away a penalty. Paul McCone limps off after making the challenge, and John Marsden is booked for dissent.

43 - Goal. It's 2-0 to Brackley. David Moyo steps up to take the spot kick and Burton saves but Shane Byrne - the only one to react - pokes the ball home. Terrible defending from the Bucks.

61 - Decent counter-attack from Telford. Joe Fitzpatrick feeds Hughes, whose fierce drive is tipped past the post for a corner. Nothing comes from the set piece though.

68 - GOAL! Telford pull one back. Joel Dielna's free-kick takes a couple of deflections on its way past Laurie Walker. The set piece was won by Zak Lilly, who has put in a solid performance for the Bucks.

Teams

Brackley (3-4-1-2): L Walker; Gudger, Gough, Dean (c); Myles (Clifton, 88), Byrne, A Walker, G Walker; Ndlovu (Armson, 65); Barnes-Homer (Hempenstall, 71), Moyo

Subs not used: Diggin, Pitt

Telford (4-3-3): Burton; Samuels, Havern (c), McCone (Bailey, 44), Higham (Dielna, 61); Royle, Fitzpatrick, Jones; Marsden, Hughes, Lilly (Westwood, 74)

Subs not used: McCarthy, Hodge

Goals: Lee Ndlovu (41), Shane Byrne (43), Joel Dielna (68)

Attendance: 367

Referee: Lee Venamore

Position in the table

18th (34 points from 35 games)