Rob Smith wants good times for AFC Telford

Manager Rob Smith is determined to give fans of troubled AFC Telford United more good times as he urged his side to make it a hat-trick of clean sheets.The in-form Bucks host relegation rivals Corby Town on Saturday looking to stretch their unbeaten run to five games after last week's 1-0 win at Harrogate.

Their impressive form on the pitch is in contrast to their struggles off the park, after a week where a county court judgement went against them over a £20,000 bill brought by a kit supplier.

But the players continue to do their bit after moving one step closer to securing their National League North status.

Boss Smith said: "This club's got a lot of bad news around it, all of the time at the moment – and I just want to keep giving them good news.

"Hopefully, the supporters will believe again and we can bounce back as a club and come strong again."

Last weekend's shut-out was the first time the Bucks have secured successive clean sheets all season.

And Smith wants more of the same as they look to extend the three-point gap to safety, after FC United of Manchester's shock 2-1 win at leaders Solihull Moors dropped them down a place.

He said: "I asked them if they had two clean sheets on the trot in them and they had. Now we have to do it again."

Meanwhile, Smith has played down the inclusion in last weekend's squad of 18-year-old unused substitute Ben Osei, a striker promoted from the youth set-up.

The Telford chief added: "It was a case of getting a body in – we don't want to put any pressure on young lads, but he's got the physical strength to cope.

"It was great for the lad. I've always been one to have a few youth-teamers train with us and that will have been good for him."