Bernard McNally column: Gavin Cowan is right – Telford have their soul back
I was at a packed New Bucks Head on Saturday and – despite the FA Trophy semi-final defeat – Gavin Cowan was right in what he said.
AFC Telford United have got their soul back this year, I think he’s dead right in that. There’s a lot of spirit there.
The players will have been a little disappointed, they probably felt they could’ve played a little better against a quality opposition. But that’s good – in a way – that there is more in the tank.
Most of the fans I spoke to were honest that Leyton Orient did enough to win.
It was a tough task to claw back that first-leg deficit. They were given a lifeline by Matt Harrold’s red card for elbowing Shane Sutton.
You could see the Bucks start playing the type of football they’ve done all season.
It was just a little bridge too far for them. They had a couple of opportunities, but National League leaders Orient are a good side. It was a real valiant effort all the same. It was great to see a big crowd there.
But there are bigger things for Telford to achieve, mainly to stay in that top seven and secure a play-off place.
The brilliant 2-1 win at Bradford Park Avenue has gone a long way to making sure that is achieved.
To turn things around after the disappointment against an in-form side is a big effort. They’ve turned their disappointment into determination to pick up a great result on their travels.
That’s a difficult place to go to on a Tuesday night. It shows there is enough experience in that side to pick themselves up. They have got a real mental strength or they wouldn’t be where they are.
That will be a massive boost moving forward, starting with Blyth on Saturday. It’s about keeping the momentum going, now there is another opportunity for fans to come and cheer their team on.
Fans are no different anywhere, they want texciting football...as well as a result!
I was lucky when in charge, we played Kendal and I think we got 4,500 to spur us on. Managers talk about the 12th man but it’s true, if the crowd see you’re trying it’s a huge advantage.
