Curtis Tilt targets AFC Telford fan power

The big centre-back is ready to step back in at Edgeley Park after the frustration of sitting out on the sidelines since December 19.

Tilt has had an enforced break after a two-match ban for 10 bookings, a wait compounded when last Saturday's home derby against old club Hednesford was controversially called off.

But his break has only made him more determined to make up for lost time as the Bucks travel to the north-west trying to bridge the seven-point gap to safety.

The former Championship club are the biggest draw in National League North – regularly attracting gates of 3,000.

And Tilt wants as many Telford fans to roar them on as possible, as they seek a Manchester treble after beating FC United of Manchester on their last two visits to the area.

The former Halesowen Town stopper said: "Stockport are a very big club to be playing at this level and have been getting some big crowds. Hopefully, lots of Telford fans will travel there and get behind us.

"Starting with Stockport, we've got to get on a run in the next two or three weeks where we're not winning one game and losing two, but winning a few in a row."

There are still 19 games left but Tilt believes Telford's plight is at the stage where performances no longer matter – it's all about the points.

He said: "These are all massive games. They're all cup finals for us now and there's a big three points there for us. It's all about getting three points now, it's not about playing pretty football.

"If we have to dig deep and show character to get the results we need, then that's what we've got to do. It doesn't matter how we get the points."

Tilt, however, insists he and his team-mates still believe they will secure their National League North safety.

He said: "I've got confidence in us staying up – if I didn't, I wouldn't be here. There's more than enough ability here. As players, we still think we can stay up, but the wins have to come quickly."

Boss Rob Smith has constantly chopped and changed to find a winning formula.

For Tilt, the biggest disruption at the back was the season-ending injury to his centre-back partner, captain Paul McCone.

But he believes there is more than enough quality and competitiveness in the Bucks back-line.

He said: "Macca getting injured had a big effect on us – he was our skipper and he organised the defence.

"It was a shame losing him because he was a big player for us. But we're pretty strong with Hutch (Graham Hutchison) and Camps (left-back Darren Campion) back.

"Dwayne (Samuels) is solid and Monty (James Montgomery) is the best goalkeeper I've played with. But Harry Burgoyne looks a good goalkeeper."