Tamworth 2 Telford 2 - Report and pictures
AFC Telford United were dealt a sickening blow as a last-ditch goal from Aman Verma saw them draw 2-2 at Tamworth.
The Bucks twice took the lead. Amari Morgan-Smith's header and Joel Kettle's own goal came either side of Akwasi Asante firing in for the hosts.
Just as Rob Edwards' side seemed to have the game wrapped up, substitute Verma struck deep into added-on time.
Telford have moved up to 20th in National League North, but are four points from safety.
Analysis
Telford were desperate to bounce back after a disastrous 3-0 home defeat to Curzon Ashton on Tuesday night.
They made two changes from that game as John McAtee and Henry Cowans replaced Anthony Dwyer and Jordan Lussey.
Elliot Newby - who had been out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury - was among the substitutes. Lussey was left out of the squad.
On an artificial pitch, the Bucks made a decent start. McAtee - making his full debut after arriving on loan from Shrewsbury Town - was particularly sharp, coming up with some fancy flicks and covering a fair bit of ground.
Despite being just 18, he was hungry to get on the ball and his side-footed strike forced Tamworth No.1 Jack Stevens into a fairly comfortable save just after the half-hour mark.
That was the best effort Telford managed before the interval. Asante hit the post for the hosts.
The Bucks should have taken the lead within a couple of minutes of the restart.
Skipper Shane Sutton rose highest to meet Ellis Deeney's corner with his head, directing the ball wide from six yards. John Marsden then went close on two occasions as well.
Telford were piling on the pressure and finally made a breakthrough in the 68th minute as Morgan-Smith's header squeezed past Lambs man Rhys Sharpe, who was on the line.
Asante soon equalised, only for the Bucks to quickly regain the advantage. Kettle got his wires crossed, firing past Stevens and into his own net.
They did not hold on, though, as Verma bundled the ball in following a melee in the box. Deeply frustrating for Telford boss Edwards.
Key Moments
39 - Tamworth break forward at pace following a mistake from Telford forward Marcus Dinanga. Akwasi Asante cuts into the box from the left-hand side and hits the post with a right-footed strike.
47 - Bucks corner. Ellis Deeney whips the ball in and skipper Shane Sutton, agonisingly, heads just wide at the far post. Big chance.
49 - Another opportunity for the visitors. John McAtee slides in John Marsden, whose toe-poked attempt is saved by Jack Stevens.
54 - Marsden - from the same position he scored in the 3-0 win against North Ferriby United last weekend - curls an effort just past the far post.
68 - GOAL! Telford take the lead! From a corner, Deeney swings it in and Amari Morgan-Smith heads home.
73 - Goal! The Bucks' lead lasts just five minutes as Asante sweeps home.
75 - GOAL! Telford are in front once more, thanks to a comical own goal from Joel Kettle. Trying to stop Marsden from getting a shot away, he manages to volley the ball into the top corner of his own net.
90 - Goal! Tamworth draw level right at the death through Aman Verma.
Teams
Telford (4-3-3): B Wilson; White, Johnson, Sutton (c), R Wilson; Deeney, Cowans, Marsden; McAtee (Newby, 61), Morgan-Smith (Murphy, 80), Dinanga (Dwyer, 69)
Subs not used: Leak, Singh (gk)
Tamworth (4-4-2): Stevens; Stabana, Jones (c), Kettle, Sharpe; Taylor (Powell, 70), Thomas (Shaw, 54), Verma, Knights; Asante, Reid (Gray, 54
Subs not used: Coulson, Kotwica
Man of the Match: John Marsden - Proved a nuisance to the Tamworth back four with nice play on the ball and great work off it. 8/10
