Nick Southall's new Bucks Diary

By Nick Southall
BBC Shropshire

Nick Southall follows AFC Telford across the country

Corby 1-2 AFC Telford United

On a misty night in Corby, AFC Telford pulled off one of their best performances of the season so far.

They showed commitment in keeping the pressure on the Corby players by closing them down quickly and Chris Nurse in the centre of midfield broke up play beautifully to allow Phil Trainer and Sean Evans room to help both Andy brown and Damien Reeves up front.

At the start of the match we were slightly concerned to see the fog descending over the athletics stadium and at one stage it was virtually impossible to see much of the play on the opposite side of the ground.

It made for a strange atmosphere with only 329 people watching the game at the athletics stadium.

The only concern for Telford will be the injuries to Andre Grey (hamstring) and Gavin Cowan (groin), both could be struggling to be fit for the next match against Redditch.

The Bucks are also waiting to see if they can sign Gavin Hurren until the end of the season. The Tamworth player's loan deal expires on Friday 11 December and there are offers on the table from other clubs keen to sign him.

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AFC Telford United 1-2 Stalybridge

It was a night to forget for Telford. The opening stages of the game offered much promise with Shane Killock scoring his goal for the club from Danny Edwards corner, but after a bright 15 minutes, it started to go downhill for the Bucks.

Keith Briggs scored the equaliser which deflected off Gavin Hurren's heel and then one minute into the second half Joe O'Neil made a super run to meet Andy Smart's cross into the box to head it into the back of the net.

Not for the first time this season, Telford failed to string a good performance together over 90 minutes. Let's not get too carried away by this though. Their form over the last month has been exceptional and we've seen a much more spirited and committed side.

But the Stalybridge game reminded many people of the matches against Northwich and Hinckley. It's not the direction they want to go in, but let's hope they can bounce back against Farsley in the Blue Square North on Saturday.

The players were given a good talking to after the game with the dressing room door staying shut for about half an hour and I'm sure a few home truths were told.

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Stalybridge 1-1 AFC Telford

At a wet and blustery Stalybridge Telford deserved their draw. Gavin Cowan has been threatening to score for the last few weeks and finally his header found the back of the net from Steve Thompson's cross.

Stalybridge deserve a lot of praise for getting the game on. In fact the pitch looked in fantastic condition. By the end of the match it was torrential rain and puddles started to appear on the surface.

The biggest problem Telford have at the moment is still up front. With only Andy Brown showing form in front of goal, it must be a worry for the management team.

While the Bucks have an outstanding defensive record so far, it's front of goal again which was exposed as their main problem. With chances to score in the first half through Jon Adams and Andy Brown, the Bucks could well have won the game in the end.

With news that there could be a few new signings on the way, let's hope they can bolster a aside which is in good form, but needs a goal scorer to produce the goods.

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AFC Telford 1-0 Workington

It was a late goal from the in-form Phil Trainer which secured all three points for Telford. Again it was another good performance by Telford, which was much needed.

Striker Andy Brown was awarded man of the match for his endless running and there's real signs that Brown is coming back into form. With seven goals to his name he's already on target to get 10 goals by Christmas and 20 for the season.

I decided to go to the gym before the game, in a bid to get back into shape after having my leg in plaster for two months. Suffice to say it made me feel a bit tired, so i doubt I'll do that again! Well that's my excuse anyway.

I'm delighted to see the Bucks have signed both Sean Newton and Shane Killock until 2011 - both have impressed me during their spells here and I hope Gavin Hurren will be able to sign on a permanent basis as well. His ability to pass the ball and add a bit of steel to the midfield has certainly made an impact.

With the possibility of another player coming in shortly, the squad is looking very strong and where a few weeks ago we were talking about a team struggling to perform, I think they may well have turned the corner.

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AFC Telford 0-2 Southport

It was simply a game to forget for Telford. Losing 2-0 against a much improved Southport side - it again highlighted problems for the Bucks this season.

In all, I can't recall too many efforts on goal from Telford. Southport dominated throughout and had many chances to score, beyond the two that found the net.

Fans left the game early and we had many calls on The Verdict after the game with supporters expressing their disappointment.

It's obvious this is a difficult time for the club, but let's not forget the success both Rob and Larry have brought to the New Bucks Head. In their first season in the Blue Square North they were knocked out of the play-off semi-finals by Barrow.

Last season they won the Setanta shield, reached the semi-finals of the FA Trophy and the first round proper of the FA Cup and to top all of that - they reached the play-off final.

From the commentary box I've definitely seen an improvement in the Bucks performances on the pitch. Take the Droylsden and Worcester matches for instance. The frustrating thing at the moment is their inconsistent form - leaving them mid-table.

There are high expectations at a club like Telford and with that comes pressure to achieve success instantly. Well, it doesn't quite work out like that in football. It only takes a couple of wins to create a positive vibe around the ground and before you know it, they're back firing on all cylinders.

Fingers crossed the FA Cup match against either Salford or Blyth will help kick start their season.

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AFC Telford 1-2 Droylsden

With virtually the last kick of the game Telford were consigned to defeat. That of course doesn't tell the tale of what happened on Saturday.

For most of the match Telford dominated proceedings.

This was a much better performance by the Bucks who played tremendous football. In a highly entertaining game, it was obvious both teams would be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.

But Telford will feel they should have been the team taking all three points.

Phil Trainer's shot hit the post towards the end of the game, which could well have told a different story, but it pretty much summed up the 90 minutes.

I said in my match report that luck just isn't on their side at the moment. The only way to get it back is by manufacturing it yourself.

I'm sure they'll take the positives form the Droylsden game and come back even stronger in the FA Cup against Worcester City.