WE were never going to go through the season unbeaten but the defeat to AFC Telford United on Saturday was slightly disappointing.

Despite the games against Alfreton Town and York City being contrasting, both saw good performances securing the results.

Against Telford, sadly, we fell quite a way short of the levels seen in the previous two games and we suffered for it.

Post game, the line from both Martin Gray and Phil Turnbull was that the players were tired and, to be fair, you could see it.

We played a lot of the game at York. Meanwhile, Telford are probably as close to being a full time outfit as you can get without calling it such, training four times per week and having a number of players on loan from Football League clubs.

Even the extra twenty-four hours extra rest they’ll have had from playing Curzon Ashton the night before our trip to York will have helped.

Whilst our visitors didn’t have a significant amount of quality in possession, what stood out was the way they set up when they didn’t have the ball and an apparent ability to press hard from start to finish.

By the end of the game, Telford looked like they could keep going for as long as they liked while we were looking a bit second hand.

While fitness was a big factor, it also felt a bit like we played in to the hands of our guests.

In the days before the game, Telford’s manager Rob Edwards told their local press that he was more than comfortable with how his side would deal with our prime threat Mark Beck.

He was right.

The other thing that stood out was, like on occasions last season and notably in the first half at York, our midfield was overrun by being a man light.

Sometimes, it’s hard enough to get a foothold in the game but when the opposition outnumber us in the middle of the park, it makes it even harder.

Whilst I love the swashbuckling football played when we’re on top with two wingers and two centre forwards providing loads of ammunition, sometimes, it’s just more pragmatic to take one of those attacking options out of the game and throw in an extra midfielder. There’s no real excuse not to.

We signed Jordan Richards and Joe Wheatley based on some impressive performances during the pre-season.

Both look to have energy to burn, can tackle and have a reasonable pass.

Perhaps it’s time for them to be integrated in to the match day squad, even if that means on the bench.

Hopefully, we’ll get back to winning ways this weekend with two games to look forward to.

On Saturday, we travel to North Ferriby United where I would imagine all involved will be hoping for a win.

North Ferriby pulled a rabbit out of the hat to win at Blyth last weekend given their start to the season.

Relegated from the Nation League last season, they appear to be on course to replicate Hyde and Droylsden in dropping through the divisions to find their level.

Then on Monday we face a tough looking home game against a buoyant Spennymoor Town.

Despite Blyth winning the NPL convincingly, I always fancied Spenny would be more suited to the higher division and they’ve certainly not done anything to make me doubt that.

What really stood out for me last season was how strong they were in the middle of the park and, if I’m honest, I can see them humbling us on bank holiday Monday if our midfield isn’t a bit more resilient than it was against Telford and the first half at York.

However, if we fire on all cylinders, we can enjoy a six point weekend.