Russell Benjamin plans to avenge red card

The 22-year-old has unfinished business with Town after being sent off against them in September's reverse Skrill Conference North fixture.

Seven minutes before half-time, Benjamin was dismissed for a challenge on Ashley Worsfield. Craig Nelthorpe scored as Harrogate went on to win 1-0 against the 10-man Bucks.

He was forced to serve a three-match ban, which left Watson depleted in the middle of the park and eventually forced his hand to bring in Mike Grogan from Cammell Laird.

Benjamin has been in and out of the team since and had a niggling knee problem to contend with, which required a fortnight on the sidelines, before he returned last month.

He said: "I have had problems with the suspension and little injuries but it happens, now I am just concentrating on getting back on track. I want to help the team go forward.

"I am enjoying it here but, with my performances, I think there's a lot more there than what we have seen. I have just got to crack on now and I feel fully-fit now.

"I have put what happened against Harrogate behind me now, it's frustrating but I will correct it next time. I still don't think it was a sending off, more a yellow card.

"But, from the referee's decision, he looked at it as a red and there was nothing I could do. It was a long walk back down the tunnel afterwards and it wasn't nice for me.

"We still played well despite being down to 10 men and created a few chances but, unfortunately, lost the game."

Benjamin's first start for a month at Workington on Saturday December 14 came in the toughest of conditions, as rain and gale-force winds battered Cumbria during the game.

But the elements got behind his 16th minute strike, his first competitive goal for the club, and settled matters with a 1-0 win that could prove vital later on in the campaign.

He said: "It's a first for me at Harrogate but I know it will be a tough game and it could be something like going to Workington, depending on the conditions.

"That was more than a scrappy game, it was probably the worst conditions I have ever played in ever. It could have gone either way.

"I just thought that scoring the first goal was vital and we managed to do that, got stuck in and went home with the victory.

"If it's like that at Harrogate, I will be shooting on sight again. With the wind behind it and the chance of deflections, it could go anywhere."

Benjamin sat out last weekend's 2-1 victory at home to Brackley Town, leaving him sweating on a starting spot for yesterday's 5-3 success over visiting Hednesford Town.

In the end, he played the full 90 minutes of a victory that sent Telford to the top of the table, with Adam Farrell becoming the first player to score a hat-trick for the club on New Year's Day.

Benjamin said: "A few of the lads sent me a message saying it was hit-and-miss whether the game would actually be played, but we wanted it on and the fans were really good in helping us.

"Liam swaps the players around sometimes and the conditions can play a part in his decisions, but that's just the way he is. It's a squad game and we play for the team.

"I didn't find out I was starting until I came into the club that morning, he wouldn't tell me before that! I was really pleased to be back in the team for such a big game.

"It was a great game to be involved in and it was our first victory against Hednesford this season. We got the job done and we could have had a win there on New Year's Day, too.

"Adam got a perfect hat-trick and he's always performing like that in training, he's been top-class. I have played with mainly older strikers in my career and he's still young.

"To go top of the league on New Year's Day was a great boost for the lads and, hopefully, we can stay there now."