AFC Telford 1 Nuneaton Town 2 - Report and pictures
AFC Telford United's survival hopes were dealt a blow as an insipid second-half display led to a 2-1 loss to in-form Nuneaton Town.
James Ferry and Luther Wildin struck for Boro, either side of Amari Morgan-Smith's reply for the Bucks.
Rob Edwards' side remain third bottom in National League North, three points from safety with 12 games left to play - and a few voiced their displeasure after the final whistle at the New Bucks Head, chanting 'Edwards out'. Nuneaton are eight unbeaten.
The club's volunteers deserve a lot of credit for getting this game on while games at both Shrewsbury Town and The New Saints were postponed.
Unsurprisingly, the pitch was not in great condition. Due to the freezing temperatures in the county it was quite firm but - crucially, after a late inspection from referee Declan Bourne - deemed playable.
There was a bizarre inclusion in the Telford starting line-up as Bob Harris returned to the fold. The 30-year-old left-back's last and only game for the Bucks prior to this one was the 1-0 loss at Hereford in the first round proper of the FA Cup on November 4.
He replaced Ryan Wilson and also coming in were Henry Cowans and Connor Johnson, in place of Elliot Newby and Niall Maher.
Maher was left out of the squad after a thoroughly impressive debut on Saturday as Telford beat FC United of Manchester 1-0. Second top scorer Anthony Dwyer was not in the 16-man party either, while former Bucks defender Joel Dielna was on Nuneaton's bench.
There was intrigue as to how the surface would hold up in sub-zero conditions in Wellington.
It was probably going to be difficult to control the ball and Telford skipper Shane Sutton was not willing to take any chances early on, clearing out of the ground the first time it came to him.
After a quarter of an hour, it was very much apparent the two sides were passing the ball around with a fair amount of comfort. John McAtee looked for his second goal for the Bucks during that time, his volley going several yards wide.
Captain Ryan Beswick also tried his luck for the visitors, his volley going just a few inches past the post.
Harris - formerly of Blackpool, Sheffield United and Bristol Rovers - started off well considering he came in from the cold. Not a lot was happening on his side, but a move down the opposite flank resulted in Nuneaton taking the lead on the half-hour mark.
James Ferry's ball across the box found Ashley Chambers, whose low shot was saved by Telford goalkeeper Ben Wilson. It fell for Ferry, though, who gratefully finished the chance from a yard out.
The Bucks did not take long to respond, thanks to some stunning work from McAtee. The 18-year-old Shrewsbury loanee skipped past the Boro defence before squaring the ball to Morgan-Smith, who rifled the ball into the roof of the net.
He has now scored three goals in five games since joining the club from league rivals York City.
Both sides had their moments and 1-1 seemed a fair scoreline going into the break.
It was Nuneaton who had the first attempt of the second half as Kennedy Digie sliced over on the half-volley. Telford did not heed that warning as Digie's fellow Boro defender Wildin put the away side back in front in the 52nd minute.
The right-back danced through four white shirts before slotting the ball into the bottom corner, with his left foot. It was a superb solo goal but, at the same time, it was very poor defending from the Bucks.
There was a couple of yellow cards dished out just prior to the hour mark. Nuneaton's George Green was booked for barging over Telford goalie Wilson, who was also cautioned for his reaction - pushing Green over.
The Bucks were seeing less and less of the ball and Edwards made a change, bringing on Newby for the ineffective Cowans. The winger instantly showed a desire to get on the ball and make things happen too, while Dielna came on for Boro.
Nuneaton should have put the game to bed as Daniel Nti put Chambers through on goal. The striker completely fluffed his lines, with his first-time effort rolling well wide.
Telford's second substitute came shortly afterwards as top goalscorer Marcus Dinanga replaced McAtee. Jordan Murphy also came on towards the end, for Jordan Lussey.
Ultimately, the Bucks were unable to find another leveller. They were decent in the first half, but far too pedestrian in the second.
Teams
Telford (4-3-1-2): B Wilson; Bignot, Sutton (c), Johnson, Harris; Deeney, Cowans (Newby, 62), Lussey (Murphy, 82); McAtee (Dinanga, 76); Marsden, Morgan-Smith
Subs not used: White, Singh (gk)
Nuneaton (4-3-1-2): Etheridge; Wildin, Digie, Johnson, Heaton; Beswick (c), Ferry, Elliot; Green (Dielna, 65); Nti (Mitchell, 90), Chambers
Subs not used: Wright, Ashton, Lyness (gk)
Referee: Declan Bourne (Nottinghamshire)
Attendance: 771
