Liam Watson hails fans as AFC Telford hit top
AFC Telford United boss Liam Watson today admitted victories such as the five-star show at home to Hednesford Town is why he wanted to become manager.
Watson's side went top of the Skrill Conference North yesterday for the first time this season with a 5-3 success in front of 1,903 noisy fans.
And the Bucks chief has called on supporters to carry on raising the roof at home and away to make themselves a 12th man for the team, as they look to stay at the summit.
It was down to spectators, club staff and volunteers and even goalkeeper Ryan Young that the game got started, after rain left the pitch unplayable in the morning.
Telford finally recorded a win over the Pitmen at the third time of asking, after a 3-1 FA Cup home defeat in September and a 3-3 draw at Keys Park on Boxing Day.
Watson came on board in the summer and said: "Yesterday was one of the reasons why I wanted to come to Telford – the crowd and atmosphere for the big games.
"We are entering the business end of the season and crowds have got to get us through matches, they did that and it made a difference.
"You couldn't get any further away then the Hednesford game here in the FA Cup, when you look at where we are now. It has been patchy along the way and there have been a few dodgy ones at home.
"When I arrived, there was a touch of negativity about the club but, going off this performance, no one is going to come here and play us, especially with the supporters.
"We need them more than ever now, going into the run-in."
Adam Farrell's hat-trick led the way against Hednesford, the club's top scorer taking his tally for the season to nine and becoming the first player to score a treble for Telford in a New Year's Day fixture.
They have now beaten the former league leaders and fellow promotion hopefuls Brackley Town and Boston United over the festive period.
Watson reckons the cluster of fixtures has brought out the best in his side, saying: "I always thought playing the so-called better teams would suit us more.
"Some teams have come here and parked the bus to put up a wall that's hard to break down. We got frustrated and so have the fans.
"The so-called better sides have come out and had a go at us."
