A stalemate first half saw both sides go in level at the break, however, a second-half header from Pendley was the difference maker in a very even contest at New Bucks Head.

The management duo opted to make four changes from the side that fell to defeat in our only league match in October. Luke Martin and Jamie Hanson both made their debuts for the club, and Cieron Keane and James Spruce both started after a week filled with incomings and outgoings.

Cohesion was a necessity in the opening moments of the match for the Blues, but despite a fairly rotated squad, it was in fact Lewis McGugan and Brad Munn’s side that had the first opportunity.

With three minutes on the clock, Spruce whipped a brilliant early cross into the box which Nathan Tyson was quickest to react to with a flick towards goal, but a last-ditch block and eventual clearance denied the Blues an early goal.

Ten minutes later, the Bucks had a chance of their own through former Notts County and Grimsby Town striker Montel Gibson. The clinical forward rose highest to connect with an in-swinging cross at the front post, although the striker could not quite find the target.

Jack Rogers then troubled the hosts’ shot-stopper when an in-swinging corner of his own caught Brandon Hall by surprise and forced a punched clearance off his goal line to keep the score level.

Mid-way through the first half, Ricardo Dinanga had an opportunity to put the Bucks ahead – the winger was given acres of space on the edge of the Blues box and allowed to shoot, although it was a comfortable stop for Ross Durrant.

The Blues’ shot-stopper was then called into action moments before half-time to deny the hosts a chance as he reacted quickest to stop a low-driven cross to snatch the ball away from the feet of the Bucks’ forward.

With the half-time whistle imminent, Martin had a huge opportunity for Long Eaton as he connected with Rogers’ whipped cross and forced a goal-line clearance from Telford’s substitute Jared Hodgkiss.

That turned out to be the last real chance of the first half as both sides went in level and subsequently came out with a determination to get the opener.

Telford had the first chance of the second 45 when Reece Styche twisted and turned inside the box to get a shot off on goal, however, the effort was blocked by the outstretched leg of Ed Cook.

Keane then ignited a blistering counterattack for the Blues just moments later – the midfielder found Tom Hewlett up top, and the striker was then able to play the ball to Spruce out wide for a dangerous cross, but Ellis Myles-Tebbutt did brilliantly to get back and deny the Blues a clear-cut chance.

Just before the hour mark, the hosts had another huge chance to score through Sam Whittall. The towering centre half rose highest to connect with a looping cross and his headed effort clattered the far post, just out of Durrant’s reach. The ball then bobbled back into the six-yard box begging for a rebound effort, but Ryan Campbell-Gordon did well to swipe the ball clear.

However, mid-way through the second half, the hosts did eventually get the goal to put them ahead. Pendley out-jumped his marker inside the Blues’ box to connect with an in-swinging cross, and his headed effort flew past Durrant from close.

Martin then displayed some heroics to keep the game at just 1-0 late on with an incredible sliding goal-line clearance to deny Bucks’ substitute Tre Mitford from close range.

Blues’ substitute and academy prospect Casey Johnson attempted a speculative effort from around 20 yards out in the dying moments of the match, although his fizzing effort crept just wide of the far post.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Telford solidified their lead through substitute Tre Mitford, who tapped the ball home into an empty net after a mistake from Durrant – that turned out to be the final play of the match, as the referee blew the full-time whistle and the Blues fell to defeat.