Alfreton 2 Telford 3 - Report and pictures

They found it in the spirit which saw them turn what seemed a likely defeat into a precious and thrilling win.

More crucially, they have found it in Josh Wilson, a striker who since arriving last month, has provided the goal threat lacking all season.

Having scored twice in Saturday's 5-5 draw at Stalybridge, Wilson scored another brace here - both equalisers after Andy Thanoj and then Dan Bradley had put Alfreton ahead.

With the hosts, unbeaten since December 19, perhaps wondering how they were only level, Connor McCarthy delivered the sucker punch and three points which, while not enough to dig the Bucks out of the bottom three, felt hugely significant.

In a season which has seen countless false dawns, boss Rob Smith knows this must represent a turning point. The margin for error is simply too tight for it to be not.

Saturday's 5-5 draw might have delivered entertainment but Smith knows points are the only thing which matter now. That was undoubtedly behind his decision to axe on loan Wolves keeper Harry Burgoyne, with James Montgomery handed his first start since Boxing Day.

John Cofie meanwhile replaced the injured Dave Hibbert up front in the Bucks only other change.

Smith's men made a bright start, with Lucas Dawson firing a free-kick just over the bar in the opening minutes. That, however, was a rare attempt on goal in an opening period which was high on energy but desperately low on quality.

The Bucks defence had to be alert to deal with a number of high balls into the box, the hosts were largely frustrated. A Sam Jones strike which sailed well wide of the target was the sum total of their attacking efforts during the opening half-an-hour and instead it was the visitors who looked better in attack, without ever seriously concern home keeper Matt Duke.

The only time the stopper was called into action was to narrow the angle after Connor McCarthy had burst into the box. Josh Wilson also saw a shot blocked but in truth the biggest entertainment of the half was Alfreton boss Nicky Law's running war-of-words with referee Anthony Tankard, until his side twice went close in the closing minutes.

First Lindon Meikle's shot took a deflection off Tilt and over the bar. Montgomery promptly dropped the resulting corner at the feet of Meikle but the striker rushed at the chance and sent his shot wide.

Graham Hutchison was guilty of giving away possession in his own half and then breathed a sigh of relief, as Sam Jones was unable to keep his header from Dan Bradley's cross down.

Telford got a let-off early in the second half when Andy Thanoj's inswinging free-kick flew inches past the far post having been missed by a host of players in the box.

But the visitors luck did not hold out much longer. As Alfreton pressed, Hutchison felled Jones on the edge of the box and Thanoj curled his free-kick over the wall and under the bar, with Montgomery a spectator.

McCarthy might have provided instant response for the Bucks but sent his shot weakly at Duke after being found by Wilson in the box.

As it was, the visitors were fortunate not to fall further behind moments later when Jones twisted, turned and unleashed a right-footed shot which rebounded off the base of the post.

Luck, it seemed, was indeed with the Bucks who suddenly found themselves level. There appeared little danger for the hosts when McCarthy's shot from the edge of the box was blocked but the ball fell to a totally unmarked Wilson who, with the flag staying down, side-footed coolly past Duke.

It proved the trigger for a thrilling final quarter not in keeping with the slugfest which had preceded it. With 16 minutes to go, Alfreton re-took the lead thanks to a piece of magic from skipper Bradley who raced in from the wing and drilled an unstoppable shot past Montgomery from 25 yards out.

It could well have been a hammer blow but two minutes later, Telford were level again when Wilson rose unmarked to head home a Dawson free-kick.

Montgomery then made a key contribution, tipping wide a Bradley shot which looked destined to restore the home side's advantage seconds later.

With eight minutes to go, the turnaround was complete when McCarthy escaped down the left wing, cut inside and fired past Duke from a seemingly impossible angle.

In stoppage time, Montgomery almost made himself the villain when he dropped a corner but Jordan Wynter bravely blocked Bradley's goal-bound shot.

Alfreton (4-4-2): Duke, Moyo, Jordan, Heaton, Allan, Jones (Leesley 77), Doyle-Charles, Thanoj, Bradley, Robertson, Meikle (Smith 85) Subs not used: Leesley, Nyoni..

Telford (4-3-3): Montgomery, Samuels, Hutchison, Tilt, Campion, Wynter, Rea (Grogan 80), Dawson, Cofie (Reid 71), Wilson, McCarthy (Clancy 85) Subs not used: Clancy, Grogan, Tonks, Burgoyne (gk).