March 2013

After the convincing win at Ebbsfleet, we hosted fellow play-off contenders Shrewsbury Town the following weekend. Adrian Nevins was missing due to a thigh injury so Graham Coughlan, an ex-Shrewsbury player himself, returned to the side to partner the in-form Mark Arber at centre back. It was an overall even match, and we should've come away with at least a point. However, Shrewsbury winger Damian Scannell dealt a cruel blow to us in the 93rd minute by rising at the back post and heading past Alex Cisak to win the match for his side. It was practically the last kick of the match. Very annoying, to say the least.

Jake Simpson returned to the starting line up after injury for our next game at struggling Chester City, after coming on off the bench in the previous match. Lewis Montrose grabbed his first goal for the club on 12 minutes with a neat close range finish, but the home side responded with two goals either side of half time. Ryan Charles levelled things up for us on 67 minutes with an effort from the edge of the box, but once again, Chester got their noses in front less than 10 minutes later. They held on, and we were denied even a point in a match which we had 18 shots to their 10, as well as 60% of the possession.

2nd in the table Aldershot were our next opponents. Just what we needed; a tough match after two disappointing, morale-denting losses. Two defeats in a row had turned into three by the end of the game, as we lost 2-1 despite taking the lead in the first half through Michael Noone. Aldershot equalised on 60 minutes, and got the winner on 81 minutes. Lewis Alessandra was also carried off with a twisted ankle towards the end of the match. This saw us drop to 11th in the table; our lowest league position of the season.

Our losing streak came to an end in our next game, though. Our opponents were Barrow, who were 22nd in the league, off-form and looking pretty likely for relegation. On paper, an easy victory. However, it was Barrow who opened the scoring on 18 minutes. Ryan Charles was brought on on 68 minutes, and our formation changed to 4-3-3. Almost immediately, the change had made a difference; Jake Simpson crossed for Netan Sansara who headed in from close range to draw us level. Despite the introduction of another striker, Richard Offiong, we just couldn't manage to grab a winner. Nevertheless, we had a point in the bag, and that was good for morale, if nothing else.

The final game of March was against Fleetwood Town, who found themselves clinging onto their Blue Square Premier life by the skin of their teeth, as they stood in 23rd place, a fair few points from safety. Graham Coughlan and Adrian Nevins started together at centre back for the first time since the 6th of February, William Mellors-Blair (whose loan had just recently been extended for another month) started on the right hand side of midfield, with Jake Simpson dropping to the bench, and Richard Offiong and Denis Behan started up front. It was the latter, Behan, who opened the scoring for us on 32 minutes, only for the away side to reply shortly after half time. Netan Sansara restored our lead with his second goal in as many games, and his 5th of the season, and substitute Ryan Charles made sure we came away with 3 points in the 4th minute of stoppage time, after latching onto Lewis Montrose's flick on. This goal was a milestone for the striker, as it was his 32nd AFC Telford goal; making him the club's all-time leading goalscorer since their foundation in 2004. Montrose came away with the Man of the Match award, after setting up two goals and making some key tackles in midfield.

March started off very badly, but the win against Fleetwood in the final game made sure we didn't go into April with our heads down and our confidence deflated. Next month will see the culmination of the 2012/13 season, and we currently sit in 9th place. Reaching the play-offs is still mathematically possible, but it would be pretty unlikely. I think everyone at the club will be pleased if we managed to finish in 9th, or anywhere above that, considering it is our first season in the league. We'll see what happens anyway.