PLAYED three, lost three. AFC Telford United’s seasonal record against Cambridge United speaks for itself.
The Bucks could rightly feel aggrieved by the referee and his assistants on Saturday – and a Cambridge goal on the stroke of half-time certainly came after what looked like a bungled piece of officiating.
Telford could take positives from this game – the impression made by giant centre-back Ben Futcher on debut and the largely more assured defensive display that followed after last week’s problems being the chief among them.
But Cambridge always seemed to have that little extra bit of quality and, even when Telford got back on level terms, were able to react almost instantly.
Four of Telford’s starting line-up have signed during the transfer window and two more, Jay Smith and Ashley Cain, have made loan moves permanent this month.
Boss Andy Sinton promised changes during January and boy, has he delivered.
Bar a win over struggling Kettering, results have not yet followed, but the signs are that they are making progress. Certainly, the Telford of a month or two earlier would very probably have been two or three down by half-time.
The U’s enjoyed a 20-minute spell of sustained pressure but found Futcher and Chris Blackburn – another of the recent arrivals – a difficult barrier to breach.
Blackburn made one sensational goal-line clearance to deny Michael Gash.
Even when the back four were breached, Ryan Young was not about to give away soft goals on his 250th appearance – and he made one super save to deny Luke Berry.
There seemed no danger when Young gathered a ball but the official flagged for a goal kick before appearing to change his mind seconds later and indicate a corner.
Angry Telford were perhaps guilty of dwelling on that puzzling decision and Kevin Roberts ghosted in unchallenged to divert Berry’s corner into the net.
The hosts drew level on 53 minutes when Will Salmon delivered a marvellous cross for striker Chris Sharp to hit a low volley that found the bottom corner off the first bounce.
Less than three minutes later Cambridge restored their lead when Tom Shaw bent a sweet strike beyond Young into the far corner.