AFC Telford Gavin Cowan in 'disbelief' after Kidderminster defeat
AFC Telford United boss Gavin Cowan admitted he can't quite believe how his side came away from their derby clash with Kidderminster Harriers empty handed.
The Bucks were the form side going into the game, but were left shell shocked when Nick Clayton-Phillips scored on his debut for the Harriers after three minutes.
In the second period, the Bucks, despite not being at their best, pegged the visitors back and pepper the Harriers box.
Chances came and went, and it just wasn't to be the Bucks afternoon.
Boss Cowan said his side were not reliable or efficient enough in front of goal, but believed they deserved to win the game.
He said: "I think everyone is in complete disbelief that we have come away and lost 1-0, it was completely one sided all through the second half.
"We were not reliable or efficient enough in certain areas, certainly in the big moments.
"I don't know how they kept our attempts out, there were bundles after bundles, after blocks and it is crazy to sit here now saying we have lost 1-0."
Telford's home form has been top drawer at times this season, and they have flown out of the blocks but the Bucks boss believes their slow start cost them in the first period.
He also paid tribute to the out of form visitors, who dug in to stop a run of three successive defeats.
He added: "We suffered from our slow start, which is very unlike us.
"They got ahead and it was a pretty even first half, but we dominated the game in the second half.
"Credit to them for digging in, they're on a downward spiral at the moment, but they are not my concern.
"I thought we deserved to win the game. You don't always get what you deserve, but you have to be more reliable."
Referee Elliot Swallow was the centre of attention in the first half, waving away what looked like a big penalty shout on Daniel Udoh.
He then didn't produce a second bookable offence when Josh Heaton took down Amari Morgan-Smith.
It could have also been argued he should have dismissed Darryl Knights too, for a late foul, and Cowan thought the referee got a number of decisions wrong.
He added: "For me it was another weak performance from Elliot.
"I don't expect refs to get everything right, but there were some blatant decisions for both sides.
"The penalty, and how their number six hasn't been sent off when he was on a booking.
"I asked him if he would have booked him if he wasn't on a yellow card, and he said yes, so surely he should have been sent off.
"It was just a frustrating afternoon."
