Late Andy Owens in the driving seat for AFC Telford - analysis and pictures

An accident on the motorway caused a 10-minute delay to the game and made it a race against time for Owens to make it in time for the 3.10pm kick-off.

He dashed out near the end of their pre-match warm-up, passengers Russell Benjamin and Sean Clancy arriving just before him as Owens sought a place to park.

But he was there when the whistle went and, 24 minutes later, was wheeling away in delight after scoring only his second goal of the season and first since November.

Owens has had his critics since signing last summer, mostly down to his return in front of goal. For an out-and-out striker, it's simply not good enough.

But is he purely a forward? The only place the 24-year-old hasn't played so far since making his senior debut in 2009 is in goal.

He's appeared in midfield for the England C team and at centre-back for a number of his former clubs, of which there has been eight already.

Owens has found a home in Shropshire and will play wherever manager Liam Watson tells him to, with the Bucks boss consistent in his 'horses for courses' mentality.

Against Stockport County, it made perfect sense for Owens to give fellow 6ft-plus performer Adam Cowen a run for his money at the back and he did exactly that.

Owens' clinical finish from Mike Phenix's cross set the Bucks on their way, before a second strike from substitute Sean Clancy wrapped up three points.

A sticky pitch at the New Bucks Head had been given some welcome respite by a relatively dry Saturday before the game began, but there were hailstones by full-time.

When the game finally got under way, Telford set down a marker for workrate as they ploughed forward looking to break the deadlock.

Captain Simon Grand's header went straight into goalkeeper Christian Dibble's hands on seven minutes, from Charlie Barnett's inviting free-kick.

Grand headed another chance wide at the far post four minutes later, as the ball sailed in from Owens' long throw.

Dibble comfortably claimed Adam Farrell's free-kick with 19 minutes gone, before Owens started to put his stamp on proceedings.

Three minutes later, he was left with his head in his hands after shooting wide with the goal gaping, after springing the Stockport offside trap and beating Tunji Moses to the ball.

Considering all of the events over the course of the season so far, you could have been forgiven for concerns that it would be another one of those days for Owens.

But he bucked that trend just a minute later, from a move that was started by Wes Baynes at right-back. His chip released Phenix in acres of space on the wing.

He looked up and spotted Owens in the box, who went to meet the ball as it sprayed across the turf and clinically slotted home at the near post, before Dibble had a chance to react.

It was nothing less than Liam Watson's side warranted after bossing proceedings, a theme that continued bar a short spell from the Hatters early in the second half.

Owens, with the bit between his teeth, went close to a second goal in the 27th minute, Dibble tipping over his shot on the turn from Chris Lever's cross into the box.

How Telford were not awarded a penalty in the 35th minute, no-one could quite understand. Referee Sian Massey had a perfect view of the incident, too.

Shaun Whalley was preparing to pull the trigger in the box before he was clipped on the back of his heels by Chris Churchman.

All 22 players looked straight at Massey and she did point – but to the ball to indicate that Churchman had won it fair and square.

All that gesture did was cause even more confusion from both sides. Bottom line, no penalty.

That was again the case when Whalley went down once more in the box under pressure from Mark Lees, so Telford had to settle for a one-goal lead at the break.

They were indebted to goalkeeper Ryan Young to retain that advantage after his fine parry from Lees at point-blank range, after the centre-back suddenly found himself unmarked in the box.

Stockport's period of pressure culminated in Iain Howard blazing a shot over the bar just after the hour, after he was found in a great position from half-time substitute Mark Battersby's cross.

But victory was secured in the 73rd minute when Telford substitute Clancy lifted the ball over Dibble with a deft chip into the net, after Farrell's cross had found him unmarked in the box.

Not content to settle for just the two goals, the home side looked to turn the screw on Stockport as defender Neill Byrne headed over with four minutes left.

Clancy, who is surely close to reclaiming a starting spot, danced past Kyle Jacobs a minute later and got his shot on target, but Dibble made the save.

The win was also Telford's first clean sheet in 10 matches, which will please Watson. He knows that keeping out the opposition is what title-winning teams do.

At the end of the season, we may look back at Saturday as a game that relaunched Telford's ascent and, ultimately, helped win them the league. They sit second. Over to you.

By Craig Birch