Rob Smith slams wasteful AFC Telford and admits club are in relegation battle

Smith's men lost 2-1 at home to Boston United in the Vanarama National League North – despite him feeling the Bucks were 'the better side'. The result leaves them in 15th in the table.

The manager said: "We are not taking our chances, and that is the reason we are in the mess we are now.

"We were the better team but the lads have got to start to wake up and realise we are in a relegation battle again. We are so powder-puff in front of goal it is frightening."

Smith did say his side displayed spirit in the second half.

was more praising of his side in the second half of the game and said his players came out playing with a lot more 'spirit'.

The defeat sees Telford drop down a place in the National North table, lying 10 points above the drop zone.

Smith oversaw his team pull off a relegation battle last season.

Defender Ben O'Hanlon was shown a red card in the game, but took to Twitter after the match to apologise for his dismissal, with fans responding in a show of support.

The Wolves prospect was sent off in the 74th minute for his challenge on Boston United forward Jason St Juste - who opened the scoring.

O'Hanlon tweeted: "Apologises to fan and players for getting sent of today."

Fellow team mate Jonathan Royle said: "I think Ben will say it was a red card but he will tell you it was something he had to do."

Midfielder Royle said boss Smith had told the players in the dressing after the game they need to start taking their chances.

"If we took our chances in the first half it would have been a different game," he said.

"I felt we started well in the game but fizzled out after they scored."

But Royle said the team are now looking ahead after the defeat to Boston.

"We will have to move on and work hard. I am looking forward to the weekend," he said.

The Bucks' next fixture sees them travel away to play Worcester City on Saturday at the Victoria Ground, in Bromsgrove, in the National League North.

Worcester sit two places above Telford in the league table with two points separating both clubs.