Brackley 0 AFC Telford 0 - Report and pictures

AFC Telford United had shot-stopper James Montgomery to thank as his first-half penalty save earned the Bucks a vital point on a nervy night at Brackley Town.[gallery]

Relegation rivals Brackley remain two points behind Telford but slip into the National League North drop zone after Lowestoft Town secured a win elsewhere.

Montgomery's spotkick came, coming in the last kick of the first-half, denied forward Steve Diggin, who boss Rob Smith had signed at former club Hednesford Town.

The result made it four without a goal for the Bucks, but by avoiding defeat their relegation fate remains in their own hands.

You could cut the pre-match tension with a knife and the hosts appeared to settle the better, they forged the attempt on the goal, when lively forward David Moyo cut in from the left-side and forced Montgomery low to a near-post save.

Telford settled and began to see the ball, the newly-formed front three of Izak Reid, Josh Wilson and Dave Hibbert linked as the latter fired over left-footed from the penalty spot.

Smith's side were enjoying some early joy down the left side, with Darren Campion, who was an injury doubt, enjoying some early room. Jordan Wynter's lofted ball found Reid on the left side, who cut inside but scuffed an effort at Sam Hornby.

Brackley forward Steve Diggin, formerly of Kidderminster Harriers and Hednesford Town, showed his class 20 minutes in, turning Curtis Tilt before firing across Montgomery's goal.

The hosts continued their early pressure and Moyo was slightly disappointed midway through the first-half to not profit from Mike Gorgan's error as Dwayne Samuels made a terrific last ditch block.

Samuels, whose two errors led to North Ferriby's goals on Saturday, showed more signs of his recovery, covering Tilt to block Matt Lowe who had worked space.

Montgomery was on-hand to deny Glenn Walker from distance, moments after the midfielder had flashed a volley wide.

A Hibbert flick from Montgomery's clearance released Reid and the pacy forward turned Jake Phillips inside out before firing into the side netting.

On the stroke of half-time, a careless lunge from Grogan brought down Diggin, who picked himself up to fire the spot-kick straight at Montgomery.

Referee Josh Smith blasted the whistle for the break as soon as the ball stuck into Montgomery's midriff.

Grogan, who had moved into a midfield role with Graham Hutchison coming on for Jack Rea at the break, swivelled and fired a volley over Hornby's goal in the early stages of the second period.

Brackley skipper Joe Clarke was not lacking in confidence and his effort from 30-yards flew narrowly over.

Reid grew well to knock down for Grogan, who worked himself into another advanced position, and the utility man saw his strike kept out by Hornby.

Moments later Josh Wilson found himself unmarked near Hornby's left byline and his cross-shot almost squirmed between the shot-stopper's legs.

Moyo spurned the hosts' best opportunity of the second-half after his lunge was inches short of connecting to sub Lee Ndlovu's flick following a fine Walker cross.

Shot-stopper Hornby was at his best midway through the half to keep out a thumping Wilson effort from distance. The Bucks creator-in-chief unleashed a fierce left-footed drive arrowing towards the corner that Hornby palmed around the post.

Sub Connor McCarthy's fresh legs were an instant danger and only a last-ditch six-yard challenge from Walker denies the Bucks.

Pint-sized McCarthy rose to meet Hibbert's cross, but his header landed wide. Before only a poor touch from Ndlovu at the other end allows Hutchison to recover.

Hornby did well not to be bundled over the line after he collected a Hibbert header from Dawson's delivery, while at the other end Clarke's free-kick sailed over the top.

Clarke had the chance to test Montgomery as his dipping free-kick following needless handbags bounced just in front of the shot-stopper.

Montgomery was the late hero as the hosts laid seige, the Bucks no.1 tipped defender Luke Graham's fierce drive over the top as Smith's men held on for a monumental point.

Brackley Town (4-4-2):

Not used: Winters, Odhiambo, Mills, Tilney.

AFC Telford Utd (4-3-3):

Montgomery, Samuels, Campion, Dawson, Grogan, Tilt, Wynter (McCarthy, 72), Wilson, Hibbert, Reid (Cofie, 87), Rea © (Hutchison, 45)

Not used: Brownhill, Clancy

Attendance: 360

Referee: Josh Smith