Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

AFC TELFORD UNITED 1 – 2 DROYLSDENN

Blue Square North - Saturday 3rd October 2009

Report by Gary Owen

Bucks' keeper Ryan Young gift-wrapped the three points to Droylsden with an almighty howler in added time. With the scores locked at 1-1, and most in the Bloods' contingent probably satisfied with a point, Carl Rodgers conceded a free kick just outside the box. Up stepped Tony Gray to hit a daisy-cutter, which flew through the legs of the defensive wall, and seemed like an easy take for Young, but he somehow allowed the ball to squirm through his hands and legs to bobble over the line.

It was a cruel blow for the home side, who had enjoyed much territorial advantage over the league leaders for much of the game, although in fairness too little of this was converted into real chances, with Chris Howarth mostly only required to field crosses and watch shots fly off target.

After 18 minutes, the home side were pressing hard and were caught on the counter attack by a slick Droylsden move after defending a corner kick. Liam Brownhill made inroads over the halfway line before finding Tony Gray. He held the ball up to release Paul Brown, whose cross was converted first time at the far post by Shaun Whalley into the roof of the net for his ninth goal in only ten appearances.

However, the Bloods' lead lasted only ten minutes, when Rob Lloyd lost possession to Steve Torpey in midfield, who cut inside to unleash as good a goal as you will see at any level of the game, giving Chris Howarth absolutely no chance with a dipping screamer into the top corner from 35 yards out.

It looked as though this might be the platform for Telford to go on and win the game, but their profligacy in front of goal ultimately cost them dear. Lee Vaughan, Jon Adams and Liam Blakeman all went close, but Droylsden also created chances, as Young did well to save from Gray.

Telford thought they had gained the lead when Phil Trainor got behind the Bloods' defence, but his shot came back agonisingly off the inside of the post to allow Droylsden to clear.

This enabled Dave Pace's men to launch another counter-attack, resulting in Young plaming a Simon Yeo shot up in the air, with former Droylsden left back Sean Newton – on loan from Barrow – clearing the loose ball off the line for the home side.

Young then handed victory on a plate with his calamitous error, and with precious little time remaining, there was no way back for the Bucks, despite a late free kick at the other end.

Droylsden may have been rather fortuitous to have won all three points, but it's a long season, and there's plenty of time for them yet to possibly be on the end of a result such as this, so Dave Pace will take what he can when he can!

TEAMS

AFC Telford United:

Young, Vaughan, Newton, Killock, Whitehead, Blakeman (Jagielka, 90'), Adams (Hurren, 82'), Rodgers, Trainor, Andy Brown, orpey (Carey-Bertram, 86')

Subs. Not used: Cowan, Edwards

Droylsden:

Howarth, Roche, Brownhill (Byron, 46'), Cryan, Halford, Beck, Lloyd (Alex Brown, 53'), Pickford, Gray, Brown P., Whalley (Yeo, 71').

Subs not used: Williams, Meechan

REFEREE: Mr. N. Radford (Worcester)

ATTENDANCE: 1,542