Telford 1 Altrincham 1 - Report and pictures

A topsy turvy game throughout should have really ended with more than the two goals, and Telford will think they should have won it at the death.

Jordan Hulme handed his side an 11th minute lead after a rip roaring opening quarter.

Altrincham had the better chances in the first half, with Telford struggling to break them down in response.

Andy White was sent off for a second booking 15 minutes from time, but despite the man advantage Telford still couldn’t unlock the north west side’s door.

It took until the 90th minute for them to do so, as Andre Brown came off the bench to win and penalty and convert it.

He almost completed the turn around in the last second, but he could only head over and Telford had to settle for a point.

Saturday's man of the moment Brendon Daniels didn't even make the 16, being replaced on the wing by Ryan Barnett.

Gavin Cowan opted for two further changes as Steph Morley made his return from injury in place of Dom Smith, and Amari Morgan-Smith came back in for Jon Royle.

The Bucks went for the one up at Chorley which didn't really work, and the boss decided to revert back to the tried and tested 3-5-2, which has worked on numerous occasions this campaign.

The game began at a high tempo and despite Altrincham putting seven past sorry Alfreton on Saturday, it was the home side who almost raced into a two goal advantage.

Captain Shane Sutton glanced a corner wide after just three minutes, before a cross fell to Barnett whose rasping shot was saved.

He then galloped between two defenders and into the box, but no one could get on the end of his pull back.

Then a deep cross to the back post was volleyed against a defender by the on loan winger, but strong hand ball shouts were waved away.

The Bucks could have been three up inside ten minutes, but Alty had already showed how sharp they were going forward.

A couple of crosses were blocked, before former Buck Yusifu Ceesay had bags of time to lay it off to Hulme, who smashed the ball high into the net from six yards.

After such a dominant first ten minutes the Bucks were shell shocked, and couldn't live with Alty at times.

They were lucky to just be the two behind when James McQuilkin conceded possession and John Johnston could only volley straight at Bursik.

After some hairy moments the Bucks did manage to get back settled, and threatened with a few set pieces.

But Alty got back on top at the end of the half, and showed why they have shoved seven, six and four past sides in recent weeks.

Bursik got down well to keep out a dipping effort from ex-Buck Sean Williams, before palming away a free header from James Jones.

Some of Altrincham’s first half play was as classy as has been seen from a visiting side this campaign.

Williams had a shot deflected wide moments into the second period, with Hulme also being denied as Phil Parkinson’s searched for a decisive second.

Telford were getting in good areas but to no avail, and when they did the passes were going astray.

A leveller almost came from Theo Streete on the hour mark, with the central defender inches away from turning in a Morley free kick.

His delivery had been dangerous all night, but the Telford man didn’t seem to be in the vital place at the vital time.

Telford received a boost when Andy White saw red for a second yellow as he hacked down Barnett 15 minutes from time, but Sutton’s header from the resulting set piece was saved.

Set pieces were continuing to come and go for Telford without the Bucks taking advantage.

After the dismissal it was all the hosts, as Cowan threw on Adam Dawson and Brown on in a bid to save the game.

Streete powered a header wide, then Sutton had one deflected behind and as the corner count increased it felt as if Telford had to score at some point.

On the stroke of the 90th minute, they did.

Brown was upended by Shaun Densmore, and the ref pointed to the spot before the striker picked himself up and just about beat keeper Tony Thompson.

Then they came again, and with literally the last kick of the game Barnett hung the cross up and Brown, unmarked, headed inches over the bar.

KEY MOMENTS

3 - HEADER WIDE - Just three minutes in and the skipper Sutton meets a Morley corner, but his glancing header goes inches wide of the mark.

7 - BARNETT DENIED - A cross in from Morley from the other side evades Udoh, but it falls kindly for Barnett. The winger sets himself and powers a shot straight at the keeper.

9 - HANDBALL? PENALTY? - Barnett has already teased in a cross, before a deep one from the other side is met by the winger. He volleys in a cross that strikes a defender. Big, big penalty shouts. Waved away by the ref.

11 - ALTY LEAD - It could be three to the Bucks, instead Alty lead.

A simple goal too. A cross finds Ceesay with his back to goal, and he lays it off for Hulme to fire high into the net.

38 - BURSIK SAVE - Former Bucks Williams cuts inside but his dipping effort is palmed away by Bursik. Moments later the keeper denies Jones' free header.

63 - STREETE CLOSE - Morley swings a free kick to the back post and Streete is inches away from connecting.

73 - RED CARD - White is dismissed as he takes down Barnett and gets a second yellow card.

90 - PENALTY - Brown goes down and its a spot kick. He picks himself back up and just about powers in that penalty.

94 - CHANCE AT THE DEATH - Barnett hangs a cross up, and Brown is there, but he can only head over. He should have won it.

AFC Telford United (3-5-2) - Bursik, White, Morley (Dawson 75), Deeney, Sutton, Streete, Barnett, McQuilkin (Dinanga 82), Morgan-Smith (Brown 60), Udoh, Knights

Subs not used - Smith, Royle

Altrincham (4-3-3) - Thompson, Densmore, White, J Jones, Hannigan, Moult, Johnston (Sass-Davis 64), Williams, Hulme (Harrop 75), Hancock (Richman 64), Ceesay

Subs not used - Poole. Chadwick

Referee - Robert Massey-Ellis

Attendance - 982