MATT Clarke delivered a simple verdict after the Reds’ defeat to high-flying Telford United: Outstanding.
The Redditch United boss was pleased with the performance but not the 2-1 scoreline at the New Buck’s Head.
Two headers from the Southern Premier Central’s leading scorer, Matty Stenson, proved the difference.
The striker netted in each half, taking his tally for the season to 21. Jack Kelly found the net direct from a corner with 20 minutes left to set nerves jangling in Shropshire.
Clarke said: “My keeper has not made a save. We’ve had, I don’t know how many chances. I thought the boys were outstanding.
“We have conceded. We don’t stop crosses and we leave the league’s leading scorer with a free header.
“It looks like we had a stonewall penalty turned down. The reality is that we were unlucky.
“Anyone who was here knows we should…they’ve cleared off the line, we’ve missed a header from a few yards out, late on.
“I’m the first to hold up my hands if we haven’t played well but I can’t say that.
“They’re a good team, everyone talks about them winning the league. But if we play like we did today, we’ll win games of football.
“We have competition for places now. Spalding away next, it will be a battle. They’re a well-financed game but we’ll go there with confidence now.”
