Telford Are Coming!

Or at least they will be if the bad weather we're currently having holds off. If it does, this Saturday will see the Shropshire side make their first trip to Seel Park for almost two years.

That last visit saw them head back to Telford with three points courtesy of an eighth minute goal by Alexander (and a generous assist by Barry Hart) during our 'can't win at home for toffee' run in the February and March of 2005. And, call it coincidence if you want, their visit this season comes a mere three and a bit months into a revival of that run; something that will no doubt get the champagne corks a-popping in the homes of those who've had their theory that history is doomed to repeat itself proved.

If you're a masochist and enjoy reliving defeats there's a report on that game here. However, if you're a Telford fan and want to wallow reminisce about a previous victory over upcoming opponents, you might want to click on that link too.

At least Telford won't become the fifth team to do the league double over us this season (should they somehow manage to win) thanks to Mossley's battling 0-0 draw at the New Bucks Head Stadium last September. Listening to the match commentary over the internet on what sounded like a football version of the Alamo certainly didn't do the nerves any good at all, especially as the commentators constantly made it seem like every Telford shot was heading towards the back of the net.

It was a novel, if at times slightly patronising experience, and if you can't get to Saturday's game but are situated in front of a PC, you'll be able to enjoy the high and lows of having someone describe the match for you with a Telford bias by logging on to Radio Shropshire's full match commentary. A slightly more detailed account of the highs and lows of listening to that match earlier this season can be found here or, if you're a member of the Mossley forum, here too.

The Bucks currently sit comfortably atop the Unibond Premier Division, four points clear of second place Hednesford having lost only one of the 25 league games they've played this season; that defeat coming last month at home to Whitby Town. Unfortunately for Mossley though Telford's away form has been almost impeccable since August. Not only have they not lost any of their twelve games on the road (nine wins and three draws), they've only conceded two goals in 1080 minutes of football away from home territory - an astonishing record. They're no slouches in front of goal on their travels either - scoring in all of their last eight away ties.

In a stark contrast to that, Mossley currently have the worst home record in the Division having managed to claim only seven of the thirty three points that have been on offer so far. Add to that the facts that Mossley haven't yet managed to score against AFC Telford United since the latters reformation and the Lilywhites' current lack of options upfront, it looks like the result is something of a foregone conclusion...

Prediction: However, the longer you think about it, the more the odds start to tip in Mossley's favour.

First of all whilst it's possible that Telford may not lose another match between now and the end of the season, the fact is that if they do it's most likely to happen when it's least expected - say, against a team struggling at the wrong end of the table. All it needs is for the fourteen players in the away team dressing room on Saturday to think that the game is going to be an easy win and it's advantage us. Recent evidence suggests that this may already be the case following the Buck's failure to beat both Radcliffe and Kendal.

Secondly, matches like this one have always been something of a forte for the Lilywhites. Whenever we've been struggling in the past and faced a team sitting proudly at the top of the division, haven't we more often than not left the ground at full-time feeling pretty good? This is the sort of game in which Mossley frequently upset the apple-cart. Just look at the Burscough game last August Bank Holiday, the visitors were the better team by miles yet we still came out if it with three points (to this day I'm still not sure how we managed it) and there are plenty of other games in recent history where the same thing has happened.

Occasionally 1+1=3 and who's to say that a struggling side lacking in both personnel and morale playing against a much better team won't provide that unexpected result? I for one think it'll happen and we'll win.

I have been known to be wrong though. A lot.