AFC Telford boss Gavin Cowan: Everything went Chester's way

The Bucks slumped to their third straight league defeat against the side with the best home record in the division.

Amari Morgan-Smith had given his side the lead, but they were pegged back four minutes later by the National League North's most in form forward Akwasi Asante.

Chester turned the game on its head in the second period, as Anthony Dudley gave them the lead.

The Bucks saw a controversial Morgan-Smith goal disallowed, before Shane Sutton saw red, and the Bucks chief was less than impressed with the performance of referee Sam Barrott.

He said: "I was disappointed in many ways, but certainly with the result.

"We had no explanation for the disallowed goal, and I thought the officials were poor today.

"For whatever reason everything seemed to go Chester's way, and I thought the officials played up to the crowd.

"I don't want to get myself in trouble, but the officials absolutely played up to them.

"We couldn't get any momentum going. Chester tried to stop us and credit to that they did it, and I have no problem with that.

"But it is hard enough against 11 players as well as the officials, who I thought was extremely poor today."

On Sutton's red card 20 minutes from time, the Bucks boss thought it was harsh, but said it came from his players being unreliable.

He added: "It is a red card by the letter of the law, but he is going away from goal.

"Andy Wycherley's kick started it, Shane let it bounce and you can't make mistakes like that.

"We lose our captain for three games now, because our players are unreliable."

After Chester had the majority of the first half play, the Bucks switched formation in a bid to get back in the game.

But Cowan didn't hold back in his assessment of his players, stating they failed to stick to the plan they went through in the week.

He also admitted he may have to change personnel in the coming games.

He added: "We switched formations because it was not working, the lads were no showing intelligence or taking on board what we said in the week.

"It was a perfect plan, but they were not carrying it out.

"When they did it it worked, so the plan was not flawed.

"But they didn't do it too much and we had to revert back to what they were familiar with.

"We may need to look a personnel and may need to change it.

"Too many have not turned up today, although I thought we were good for a draw.

"Credit to Chester, they were better in certain areas, not completely though.

"But we didn't deserve to win the game."