Half term report: AFC Telford push for the top

A 5-3 New Year's Day victory over former league leaders Hednesford Town had thrills and spills which were a world away from when the campaign began in August.

It has taken time to gel with, as we stand, just two players from last season's personnel on the books and it's been very much a team effort.

The stand-out performer has probably been top scorer Adam Farrell while the club's big summer signing, winger Sean Clancy, will be disappointed with his form in recent months after a super start.

Midfielder Mike Grogan has, undoubtedly, been the find of the season so far, alongside Farrell.

And, as has been the case for years, goalkeeper Ryan Young continues to perform as the last line of defence. In front of him, there has been ups and downs for a few.

New manager Liam Watson, a squad full of signings and a viewing public not knowing what to expect greeted the big kick-off at home to Workington.

Neill Byrne's first-half header got the Watson era underway at the New Bucks Head with a 2-1 win, completed by Tony Gray's strike.

The first away assignment came three days later at Boston United, where Clancy's netted a penalty in a thrilling 1-1 draw.

Watson's side would not have to wait long for their maiden victory on the road, winning 2-1 at Gloucester City the following Saturday through Clancy's winner.

Clancy's equaliser on Bank Holiday Monday led to 1-1 draw at home to Solihull Moors, before he scored again in a 3-1 victory at Gainsborough Trinity.

His quest to become the first player to score consecutive goals in the first five games of the season for the club would not come to pass, but he had some impact.

That finished an unbeaten August, but Watson still said at the time: "I keep on telling them that it takes years to build up a reputation and weeks to lose it."

Watson's undefeated streak came to an end, playing with three central defenders in a 1-0 home defeat to Harrogate Town that started September.

The formation was ditched after a 3-1 loss at Bradford Park Avenue before bouncing back to record their biggest league win of the season, 4-1 over Colwyn Bay.

There would be repercussions after they went out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle, former boss Rob Smith's return to the New Bucks Head resulting in a 3-1 win for his Hednesford Town side.

That finished an up-and-down September, with Watson saying: "There are players who have got to step up to the plate."

If momentum had been dented in September, it ground to a halt in October through frustrating periods of inactivity, with just two fixtures completed due to their FA Cup exit.

They did manage to get back on track, though, with a hard-fought 1-0 away win at Histon before the best footballing display of the season, at that point, saw off North Ferriby United 2-0 at home.

Watson said: "It might have been a blessing in disguise, we have had a little break and come back looking really fresh."

At a rainy Stockport County at the start of November, the Bucks boss labelled his side's defensive display "a hammer house of horrors" two days after Halloween.

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong and Watson was hell, fire and brimstone after the 4-2 defeat, demanding a response at Brackley Town on Bonfire Night.

Andy Owens' first competitive goal for the club gave Telford the lead, but the hosts battled back to earn a share of the spoils.

Signs that Watson's side were approaching form came with a 3-1 victory at home toStalybridge Celtic, where Farrell started a run of a goal in three successive games.

He then got the winner against Vauxhall Motors, before a belter in the widest victory of the season in all competitions so far, 6-0 against minnows Scarborough Athletic, the third home game in a row.

Telford then hit the road to play Barrow where Mike Grogan scored twice in a 3-0 win, before another goalless draw with Worcester City away from home in the FA Trophy ended November.

December began with the worst display you are likely to see at the New Bucks Head this season, a calamitous 3-0 defeat in the trophy replay against Worcester.

Another home loss to Leamington in the league raised further concerns and heightened the need to get back to winning ways at bottom club Workington.

Who could have forecast the conditions they would have to contend with at Borough Park, as heavy rain and gale-force winds battered Cumbria.

If ever there was a sign that the team were building in character, this was it. They scrapped in atrocious conditions and, eventually, came home with all three points.

Then came crunch time – four games against teams all jostling for position near the top of the table, with three on home turf, over the festive period.

A Christmas cracker against Brackley Town saw them come from behind to force the victory, what would become a reoccurring theme in the next four matches.

Boxing Day brought a long-awaited renewal of acquaintances with Hednesford and there was no shortage of goals as the Bucks trailed twice, leading in-between before equalising in a 3-3 draw.

They gave Boston a head-start that Saturday before, as they did against Brackley, turning the tables on their visitors to record a 2-1 win.

It marked the end of 2013, with Watson saying: "As a team, I think we have done remarkably well, considering we haven't had a consistent goalscorer as yet."

Maybe the manager hadn't factored Farrell into his thinking at that point. But the 23-year-old was about to make a big statement.

The brilliant 5-3 victory over Hednesford that opened 2014 saw Farrell become the first player in the club's history to score a hat-trick in a New Year's Day fixture. There's clearly more to come from him.

Watson's troops had to come from behind for the fifth game in a row to grab a point at Harrogate Town on Saturday, which knocked them off the top of the league.

They are only second on goal difference and are firmly in the mix. There or thereabouts. Champions or play-off contenders. Which one will it end up being?

By Craig Birch