AFC Telford Utd maintained their unbeaten start to the season this week with a grimly fought goalless draw with Alfreton which did little to entertain the New Bucks Head crowd.
The visitors clearly arrived determined to thwart their hosts attacking style and settled into a defensive structure which dragged down the game, although they clearly went home happy with their point.
In contract, the Bucks were not at their best, clearly frustrated with their opponents’ tactics and threw away any chance of opening up the game when Terry Fearns missed an eighth minute penalty.
Had they scored, Alfreton would have had to change direction and the result would have been a far more entertaining spectacle for the Telford faithful.
Instead, breathing a sigh of relief, the visitors were able to sit back and defend and thwart what attacks the Bucks managed to string together.
Telford struggled to make an impact in the first half, their energy and effort not matched by any real quality.
Hopeful
Fearns’ uncharacteristic missed spot kick set the tone for what was to follow when he sidefooted wide after Anton Brown had been penalised for handling.
The visitors never looked like finding a way to Telford’s goal, and the Bucks were largely restricted to hopeful efforts from outside the box that were of no trouble to the keeper.
There were boos at the break and some sarcastic cheers when Liam Blakeman was substituted midway through the second period. Telford did find another gear after the introduction of Jamie Vermiglio and Lee Moore, and enjoyed their best spell of the game around the hour mark with a couple of good efforts at goal.
Boss Rob Smith must have felt the tide turning in his side’s favour and reacted by sending on another striker, Jarred Stevens, and switching to a 4-3-1-2 formation.
The bold move was not rewarded, though, as Alfreton shut up shop completely and showed their defensive qualities to keep the Bucks at bay.
Despite all the frustrations of the season so far, the Bucks have still bagged 11 points from five games and are riding at the top end of the table. On Saturday, they grabbed a single goal away at Redditch to seal their third straight win.
Andy Brown was the hero of the hour; Fearns hoisted a ball over the top of the Redditch defence, Brown ran onto it and lobbed a shot over the head of the oncoming keeper.
