There was an almost audible sigh of relief around the New Bucks Head as AFC Telford United finally picked up their first home win of the season at the fourth attempt.

Yet this deserved victory over a well-beaten Harrogate actually propelled them up into the top five of the Blue Square North.

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Football is, of course, a results business – and the Bucks have lost just one of their first eight games.

That represents a very healthy platform from which they can hopefully sustain an ultimately successful promotion challenge.

Away from home, wins have flowed freely so far and now they can try to use this success as a launchpad for similar success on home soil.

Not that they will have been feeling mightily confident at half-time, when the scoresheet was still blank and leading scorer Andy Brown had already gone off injured.

Brown had only been passed fit to play at training on Thursday, having fallen heavily onto his ribs during the Bank Holiday Monday game at Gloucester.

Yet he was evidently not quite right and was clearly in trouble after clashing with Harrogate’s Simon Sturdy in an aerial challenge just a quarter-of-an-hour in.

The former Nuneaton forward came back on after lengthy treatment and lasted another 20 minutes but then had to give in to the pain.

There had, however, already been encouraging signs for the hosts during that opening 45 minutes.

Gavin Cowan, Phil Trainer and the unlucky Danny Carey-Bertram all went close during one frantic goalmouth scramble.

On-loan defender Shane Killock also hit the bar with a glancing header off a Danny Edwards corner.

Telford continued to probe in the second half and finally broke the deadlock on the hour when substitute Steve Torpey – the man who had replaced Brown – found space to get on the end of Steve Jagielka’s cross.

Torpey might have been the man to grab the glory, but Jagielka’s cross had been inch-perfect and proved the highlight of an exceptional performance by the recalled former Shrewsbury man – one that was deservedly highlighted by his manager Rob Smith.

“He was absolute quality, every decision he made was the right one,” said Smith.

“He got an absolutely ridiculous yellow card, which is why I took him off before the end – because I didn’t want him getting anything worse than that.

“But I thought he was superb all game. I’m really pleased he’s come in and taken his chance, and he has to make sure he keeps the shirt now.”

That goal spurred the Bucks on, and they added a second within six minutes – this time Phil Trainer the man on target.

Trainer had already gone close with two terrific efforts from distance and it was a case of third time lucky as he beat keeper Stephen Hernandez with an exocet missile of brutal force from 25 yards.

“He’s frustrating because he looks lazy at times, but it was a top drawer strike,” said his manager.

“Not many people can do that, and I don’t think you’ll see a better goal here all season.”

Harrogate might have crumbled at that point and deserved much credit for the way they tried to get back in the game.

They reduced the deficit when Brian Dutton slid in unmarked at the far post to score off Rory Coleman’s cross.

The visitors also applied pressure in the closing 10 minutes that forced Telford’s defenders to earn their money.

Yet Torpey, Trainer and Tom Field all could have added to the scoresheet in what was an ultimately deserved home win.

“We created a hell of a lot of chances and should have won the game by four or five really,” added Smith.

“Our quality wasn’t great in and around the box and you can see how nervous we are when we get up there, but we got the job done.”

By James Garrison