A bum rap for AFC Telford's Ryan Rowe

The Bucks frontman belatedly made his first league start for the club in Saturday's 1-0 win at Stockport and was boss Rob Smith's Man of the Match.

Rowe seemed on the verge of making it into the Football League, during his time with Stourbridge and then Kidderminster Harriers.

But things haven't gone the way he wanted and he joined Telford from Worcester City in September.

Rowe said: "Things just haven't worked out and some of it's down to me taking it for granted a bit.

"But I've had a kick up the backside now from my old man and hopefully I can take it on from here. I've been injured and there have been things off the pitch which weren't the best.

"Now I want to get my head down, get back in the team and kick on from there."

Rowe is convinced he can score the goals to help Telford stave off relegation if he can get regular football.

He said: "Match fitness is what you need and I haven't played many games. If I can play a couple more games, I can get my sharpness up and get a few goals and get us out of the relegation battle."

Rowe is happy to play the lone frontman role he excelled in at Edgeley Park.

He said: "I've always played that role. I've had to be patient. It was my first league start and I was champing at the bit to play. I needed to put a performance in and I'm glad we won."

He also praised the team spirit his colleagues showed at Stockport, as they ground out what was only Telford's fifth win of the season.

Lucas Dawson's penalty two minutes from time settled matters and Rowe said: "It was massive. The difference in the changing room is instant, it's really lifted things.

"Before it was flat but if you go in there now it's buzzing. We have to keep that going and take it into the next few games."

Rowe has already spoken of the need to exact revenge on tonight's opponents Hednesford. There are four points and three places between the clubs, so a win is vital to Telford.

He said: "If we win it we'll have closed the gap then anything can happen. You can get three wins and suddenly be out of it (the drop zone) and pushing up the league."

Boss Smith believes Rowe can become an important player for the Bucks, the Telford chief adding: "He's a good player and likes that role.

"He was lacking match fitness when he came and then couldn't train. But he looked an all-round great centre-forward (on Saturday). He bought free-kicks, kept the ball and was clever."