Big-match preview: Boxing Day serves up a big clash at the top for AFC Telford

After suffering a sucker-punch last-minute equaliser at Stourbridge last time out, the Bucks fell two points further behind the Yeltz, who scored their own last-minute goal to snatch three points against Redditch United on Saturday.

A win for the hosts would move them within a point of Halesowen with a game in hand, and Telford boss Kevin Wilkin is excited ahead of his side’s biggest game of the season so far.

“They won their last game late on, and to be able to keep going during these kinds of periods is something in itself,” he said. “We know we’re in for a really tough game.”

Wilkin added: “The stats prove that they can keep going for the duration of their games, and still have that little bit of quality and understanding about them when it comes to the last knockings of games.

“Good teams are able to do that and find ways to win, and it’s what they’ve been doing all season.

“It’ll be two good sides going right at it, and hopefully we can enjoy the occasion with all three points.”

A bumper crowd is expected at the SEAH Stadium, for a fixture that attracted 1,704 spectators last year.

And with even more at stake this time around, Wilkin admitted the game could be settled by who handles the pressure of the occasion better.

“They’re a well-supported club similar to ourselves, and if I recall rightly there was a fantastic crowd on both occasions that we faced each other last season,” Wilkin said. “This season they’re going really well, and it’s going to be a very big game which is what we want.

“As a group we relish these tough games, they really mean something to us, and it certainly will on Boxing Day.”

He added: “We’ve had them watched, and they’re second in the league for a reason.

“You look at the profile of the players that they’ve got and they’re all very consistent, good players who can score goals and have that adaptability we often talk about.”

Telford will be boosted by the return from suspension of Kyle Storer, although the experienced midfielder may struggle to oust Saturday’s goalscorer Jimmy Armson and impressive debutant Harry Hawkins from the starting XI.

However, Wilkin highlighted that the potential for an open game could see his trusty midfield general return to the squad in some capacity.

“Both sides have played who can pass the ball and are technically capable at this level, so the surface will definitely lend itself to a passing game,” he explained. “I’m very much expecting that, but we know they’re good on the break with plenty of pace that can hurt us if we aren’t at the levels we need to be.

“We’ve shown signs of that ourselves though, which shows it’s a game between two closely-matched sides.”