It was a stronger Telford side that met up with the Harriers for the second time this season at Aggborough and it looked obvious that we weren't going to see a repeat of the 4-0 scoreline that we saw in the FA Trophy game a few weeks prior to Christmas. Telford have made some additions to their team since the turn of the year and look all the more solid than the team we sent crashing out of the Trophy. They still had a tendency to waste time though with the thinking being that they might get away with a draw if they could spend all ninety minutes doing so.
We're a team that don't stop attacking though and eventually any defensive or timewasting tactics are going to come a cropper against us.
Us today saw the return of Zaine Francis-Angol to the side following injury and also the return of Jared Hodgkiss to the bench after five months out injured. Getting another start was Darryl Knights, in favour of Tyrell Waite, while Elton N'Gwatala returned to the eleven after being benched against Ebbsfleet last Saturday. Back on the bench was Sam Austin while there was no sign of new signing Josh Ezewele even though he scored on his debut last Saturday.
We started the game in our usual whirlwind style by going for the early goal. Knights saw his chance, from a James McQuilkin corner, blocked on the line and then Arthur Gnahoua drove a good chance wide of James Montgomerys' goal. Fifteen minutes in and the best chance to score for us came when Gnahoua found space in front of the packed Bucks defence to thump a shot from the edge of the area against the bar with the keeper beaten.
Montgomery is being touted around by his agent as being the next big name to move up from non-league into the football league with six figure sums being bandied about. He is a good keeper and one I would have with us in a shot but he's not as good as they think. He did play well today and kept the score down to a single goal.
He proved that with a great save from a N'Gwatala pile driver that was heading for the back of the net thirty minutes in. Apart from another chance for Gnahoua towards the end of the half there was nothing much happening. Telford had settled down and began to pass the ball around themselves without giving any concern to our own keeper Alex Palmer. The game drifted towards the halftime whistle.