Telford 1 Chorley 1 - Report and pictures

Telford had been the better side for most of the game, but it looked as if their former striker Josh Wilson had won it for the visitors seven minutes from time.

However in the fourth minute of injury time, Cowans, with one of his first touches since coming on fired home from the edge of the box, to the delight of the 1,200 strong crowd.

Telford went into the game with no win in three in the league, but in stark contrast the visitors were flying high at the top of the table after an unbeaten start to the campaign.

Gavin Cowan opted for two changes, with Daryl Knights recalled for Amari Morgan-Smith, and youngster Zak Lilly preferred to James McQuilkin.

Chorley were hoping two former Bucks in their armoury could come back to haunt their former club, in the form of Elliot Newby and Wilson.

From the off it was evident the conditions were going to be a problem, with the saturated pitch making it difficult for the ball to run.

That wet surface almost cost Telford early on as Max Bramley failed to handle a long range Adam Blakeman effort, but the Bucks back line got back to smother the danger.

Knights fired wide at the other end, before Bramley had to be alert again to palm away a Newby effort, after John McAtee had conceded possession cheaply in a dangerous area.

Both sides began with a high intensity in a bid to gain the early advantage.

And Telford almost grabbed it on the quarter hour mark, however Daniel Udoh could only fire straight at the keeper from a good position in the box.

The visiting defence had only conceded four goals in 11 games so far, but the Bucks were showing that they were there to be got at.

Steph Morley produced a teasing cross soon after that evaded the Chorley defence as well as the Bucks strikers.

Then a flash point came on 25 minutes as Udoh took the ball around the last defender and as he was baring down on goal, he was pulled back by Matt Challoner.

Bucks fans and players alike were screaming for a red card, but referee Scott Simpson only produced a yellow and the resulting free kick from Morley struck the wall.

Udoh headed a Morley cross straight at keeper Matt Urwin, before Chorley skipper Andy Teague lashed a rare long range effort over.

Knights was looking lively for the Bucks on his return to the line-up, and glided through the visiting defence in first half injury time only to have the ball taken off his toe at the last second.

Telford began the second period much like they ended the first, with more urgency and on top.

Knights headed wide, before a great chance fell to McAtee ten minutes into the half.

A Morley free kick was cleared as far as Ross White who hooked the ball into the box to find an unmarked McAtee, but he could only fire wide.

A wayward effort from Newby at the other end received one of the loudest cheers of the afternoon from the home fans, as his strike sailed over the stadium.

Another former Buck Wilson headed way over, with the league's leading side were being thwarted by a new look back three.

Theo Streete and Shane Sutton were as solid as ever, with young Zak Lilly looking impressive on the left side of the back line.

Telford had the control of the second half, but it was Chorley who had a golden chance to take the lead 15 minutes from time.

Skipper Teague's header from a corner was nestling in the bottom corner, however Ellis Deeney was on the line to head away and keep the scores level.

Amari Morgan-Smith was introduced from the bench as Cowan's men pushed for a goal that would pinch it.

However with seven minutes to go, the league leaders struck.

Substitute Louis Almond crossed from the left and Bramley could do nothing as Wilson planted a header into the top corner.

White fired over in the dying moments of normal time, before McAtee curled an effort high into the stand as the Bucks looked to salvage a point.

Just as it looked like they had run out of time, Cowans popped up with a spectacular late goal.

Udoh calmly found the midfielder on the edge of the box, who curled a superb shot beyond goalkeeper Urwin.

Key Moments

23 - Daniel Udoh takes the ball around Matt Challoner who pulls him back as he was bearing down on goal. Despite big claims the ref only produced a yellow card.

54 - CHANCE - Ross White hooks it into the box but an unmarked John McAtee can only direct it wide.

75 - CHANCE - Ellis Deeney clears Andy Teague's goal bound header off the line.

83 - GOAL - Louis Almond's cross from the left his headed into the top corner by former Bucks striker Josh Wilson.

90+4 GOAL - Henry Cowans curls in a superb effort from the edge of the box to snatch a point.

Teams:

AFC Telford United (3-4-2-1) - Bramley, White (Cowans 90), Morley, Deeney, Sutton, Streete, Lilly, Royle (Dawson 84), Udoh, McAtee, Knights (Morgan-Smith 72)

Subs not used - Wycherley, Brown

Chorley: (3-5-2) Urwin, Challoner, Blakeman, Teague, Leather, Meppen-Walter, Cottrell, Whitham (A Newby 66), Carver (Almond 63), Wilson, E Newby

Subs not used - Glynn, Anson, Jordan

Attendance - 1,258

Referee - Scott Simpson